Chromatography Forum

We are currently considering relocating various items of equipment within our new building and I have a question regarding GCs with FID.

Into what environment can they be safely placed?

One proposed location is a small approx 3m square room that will also contains HPLCs - hence the possibility of solvent vapour. Assuming that a ventilation system is in operation, and that solvent bottles are not situated immediately next to the GC would this cause any issues - either for safety or for the operation of either instrument.

Thanks for any views.

Hi,

If I was in the same situation, I wouldn't do it. I would consider the risk of accidental solvent spillage to be too high. I have seen the effects of an accidental HPLC solvent spillage near a flame - not good.

Regards,

Ralph

I agree with Ralph. It appears to be an accident waiting to happen.

The fire investigation committee would want to know who made the decision.

best wishes,

Rod

I respectfully think the risk to be low. That's two votes against and one for. Only you know the real situation and can assess the risk accordingly. No one can do it for you, but consider this - how do hundreds of industrial hygiene labs get away with autosamplers filled with carbon disulfide ? I think if the vote carries then they must close their operations.

Mike's comments are valid. My concern is that, whilst the risk is low, the small size of the room increases the severity of the consequences. Some vapours, like ether or hexane "roll" unseen across spaces. In a larger lab I would be happy. As I said, I have seen an accidental spillage from an LC being ignited. The results severely scarred one person for life, which is why I am possibly more sensitive to the risks.

Regards,

Ralph

The instruments would be on opposite sides of the room. Very little risk of liquid solvent reaching the GC. Solvent vapor is heavier than air? There is no intervening bench for a 'roll' effect.

Thanks for you thoughts.

... It appears to be an accident waiting to happen...

I agree with this. Do you have an EHS department to help determine the safety of these types of situations? (Environmental Health + Safety)

My preference would be to perform a risk assessment, and document it.

Only you know what the ventilation systems and instrument usage requirements are. If people are preparing mobiles phases, or filling/emptying GC wash vials, they need to have suitable ventilation or good accident insurance.

I'd want to be certain that a suitable barrier to air-flow exists ( including the exhausts from instrument ovens etc. ), and that oeprators can't put a bottle of normal phase HPLC solvent eg hexane near a source of ignition.

I've worked in a lab where the IR ( with hexane washbottle for washing lubricant from samples cells ) was on a bench adjacent to an AAS with N2O/C2H2 flame. Staff were told of the hazard, and expected to work in a way that minimised the risk. I suspect a modern risk assessment would prohibit such practices.

Please keep having fun,

Bruce Hamilton

Do you use column heaters for the HPLC's or are the columns at ambient. If the latter, are you sure the heat from the GC's will not cause significant changes in the room temperature? Also, if you use very volatile solvents (eg hexane) the heat from the GC's, if not adequately vented, could cause problems with the HPLC pumps.