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FID baseline in dependence of flow

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 2:31 pm
by emsman
Hello,

I need some support on FID principles. Normally our GCs have about 2-5 pA baseline (FID-detector). Since today there are 70 pA, on all instruments! Searching after the contamination in the gas supply I changed the flow of FID gases:
300 instead of 400 ml/Min Air (from factory net through zero Air Generator) brings about 10 pA decrease in the Baseline
20 instead of 30 ml/Min Hydrogen (from hydrogen generator) brings about 50 pA decrease.
Does hydrogen change the flame processes so much, that baseline goes down that much? I don't know how hydrogen can be contaminated.
Air contamination is more likely (we had that before), but before I make stress in the infrastructure department I want to be sure, that contamination is not self produced by us in the lab.

Thanks a lot in advance
Emsman

FID baseline in dependence of flow

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 2:49 pm
by emsman
Hello,

Problem is gone. There must have been a contamination in air. Baseline is OK again.

Thank You
Emsman

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 2:51 am
by Chris Jones
Well that was an easy fix :D

Amazing what flow-on effects can happen with contaminated gases. See my thread about the baseline woes...