GC Newbie please help!

[AZBiodiesel]

Hey guys I am installing and operating an HP 5890 GC series II w/ FID for the first time and I have some questions. My first big challenge is the plumbing. Does anyone know of any good sites that show examples of the plumbing and regulators, traps, connectors etc? For example what kind of traps do the H2 and Air lines need? How do I plumb the make up gas since I am using a .53 id column, Do i need to split the carrier gas line coming off of the cylinder? Also what kind of flow meter is best to check flow rates, soap bubble meter, bead flow meter, electronic? Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

[Consumer Products Guy]

Hey guys I am installing and operating an HP 5890 GC series II w/ FID for the first time and I have some questions. My first big challenge is the plumbing. Does anyone know of any good sites that show examples of the plumbing and regulators, traps, connectors etc? For example what kind of traps do the H2 and Air lines need? How do I plumb the make up gas since I am using a .53 id column, Do i need to split the carrier gas line coming off of the cylinder? Also what kind of flow meter is best to check flow rates, soap bubble meter, bead flow meter, electronic? Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

what kind of traps do the H2 and Air lines need?
hydrocarbon and moisture traps

How do I plumb the make up gas since I am using a .53 id column?
Install a tee in the helium line behind the instrument

what kind of flow meter is best to check flow rates?
electronic is best (somewaht expensive), but bubble meter does work; there is a timer function on front panel which makes the calculations easy. The Agilent FID adapter which pushes into the FID makes measuring H2 and air easier, and even flow through the column.

[AICMM]

AZBiodiesel,

I know of two other people (in Southwest area) that are interested in this application. If you don't mind sending me your contact info, I would like to forward you name to them.

Best regards.

[chhubert]

You may visit the Sigma Aldrich web site :

http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/analytical- ... raphy.html

Choose the "Gas Purification / Management" and it details materials and information how to build up a reasonable gas line for GC-FID. Hope this helps.

Hubert

[AZBiodiesel]

Thanks for all the info guys. I have a few more questions to add. If I plan on doing On column injection, then i don't need to use a liner? Since the needle theoretically is loaded right onto the column?
Another question is about the use of single or two stage gas regulators on carrier, air, and hydrogen cylinders. I have read everywhere that two stage cylinders are necessary so you won't get pressure increase and surges. However the other lab tech i work with says that single stage regulators are fine. So now we have single stage regulators on our cylinders, how will this affect the chromatogram? Could we use a single stage regulator on the cylinder and then an in line regulator before the machine? And, are two stage regulators absolutely necessary on the air and hydrogen lines as well? Thanks again.

[Ron]

If you are going to do on-coliumn injections you need an on-column injection port, not a split-splitless injection port. The on-column port is designed so the column goes up to the top of the injection port and the needle goes into the column for the injection.

I prefer two stage regulators, most 5890s have what is call an IPCP inside the left side of the GC, which is a set of secondary regulators. I always used two stage regulators with the IPCP when I used 5890s.