HCL/H2SO4 in GC...

[tvispute]

Hello guys,

I'm carrying out some reaction wherein I want to use either HCl or H2SO4 as homogeneous catalyst. Water in my solvent. I'll analyze my products by GC-MS wherein I use a silica based capillary column by Restek.
Because of the presence of acid in my reaction mixture I cannot put that directly in GC as that can result in dissolution of column's stationary phase as told by Restek.
I thought of neutralizing my reaction mixture with some base but then there will be some salt dissolved in it which again is not advisable to inject in GC.
Is there any solution to this? What can I do to analyze my products?
I'll really appreciate if anybody of you can solve my problem.

Tushar

[chromatographer1]

Well, it would help if you told us what your products were.

best wishes,

Rod

[AICMM]

Tvispute,

To speak to Rod's point, depending on your product it could be as simple as an extraction with an organic solvent like hexane or isooctane. Need to know more about the product to be of much help.

Best regards.

[tvispute]

I have many reactants in there and hence have many products. Its like mixture of various oxygenated compounds in water. But my main products are ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol. I'm using water as solvent so I don't think I can do extraction in organic solvent here.

Tushar

[chromatographer1]

I would get a Porapak P column in glass or in fused silica lined SS.

I would suggest you get a SS column with screens attached via a bored through union with a fused silica lined SS 4 inch to 6 ince pre-column which you can replace when needed. The pre-column only requires a screen in the outlet end, the end that goes into the bored through union. (use graphite not SS ferulles)

If you use glass wool for the inlet you can even replace the packing yourself.

Supelco can supply these items. Give our Technical Service an email or a call if you require additional assistance.

Rodney George
Senior Research and Development Scientist
Gas Separations Research
Supelco
595 North Harrison Road
Bellefonte, PA 16823

814-359-3041 voice
814-359-3044 fax
techservice@sial.com

[MikeD]

Before GC how about neutralising with calcium hydroxide and spinning down to remove (most of) the sulfate.