Chromatography Forum

Hello GC practitioners,

I have been trying for a week to seperate one and two carbon containing compounds dissolved in Carbondisulphide, and using an ECD as detector. I was seeing terrible tailing for CS2 and I just realised that ECD is not compatible with Carbondisulphide.

With the short literature search, all i could get was the info about the incompatibility, but neither the reason for it nor typical symptons that will be observed (I simply want to see if it matches with what i am observing). Would anybody have these information? Perhaps a list of compounds (used as solvents) incompatible with ECD (Other than chlorinated compounds offcourse!).

Thanks.

Shruesh,

I could not find exactly what you are looking for but did have the following:

"Detectors for Gas Chromatography" HP book by R. Buffington and M. K. Wilson,

"ECD response to various compounds
Hydrocarbons 1
Ethers, esters 10
Aliphatic alcohols, ketones 100
amines, mono CL, F cmpds
Mono-Br,di-Cl and di-F cmpds 1000
Anydrides and tri-Cl cmpds 10000
Mono-I, di-Br, poly-Cl and poly F 100000
Di-I, tri-Br, oly-Cl, poly-F 1000000

Unfortunately no mention of your problem, sulfur compounds which also typically respond, see Pick, M.E., Jrnl of Chrom. 171, (1979), p. 305. Also no mention of nitro compounds which also respond very well (search ECD and explosives) or oxygenates. Also search Pelilizzari, E.D. and electron capture (afraid I don't have the full reference.)


Sorry not more helpful...

Best regards.

It's many years ago now but I remember a colleague measuring carbon disulfide in toluene by ECD. In a splitless injection I think the sensitivity was just about enough to detect 0.02 % w/v in toluene which may not be good for your application.

was seeing terrible tailing for CS2 and I just realised that ECD is not compatible with Carbondisulphide.

hmm Strange and inexplicable behavior
What's the problem? It's plain to give strong signal.
In my laboratory we are using uECD to determination CS2 in food without any problems. It's correct detector to detarmination CS2 but u can't use CS2 as a solvent or carry gas.