http://dx.doi.org/10.4322/sc.2011.017

 

Considerations on the use of hydrogen as carrier gas for gas chromatography

Fidelis, Carlos Henrique de V.

Palavras-chave: Gas chromatography, carrier gas, helium, hydrogen.

Resumo The choice of carrier gas to be used in a gas chromatograph must consider operational reasons, as well as suitability for the intended application, which is a function of physical and chemical properties of gases. Both helium (He) and hydrogen (H2) meet the basic requirement of a good carrier gas: to be an inert gas. However, the selection criteria go further, especially in recent years, where the low availability, due to the decrease in its production, has increased the cost of He. These factors together have motivated many researchers to prefer hydrogen instead helium as carrier gas for use in gas chromatographs. However, each of these gases presents unique characteristics and implications of this change must be understood and weighed at the time of choice. A series of questions arises when one consider the possibility of exchange nitrogen or helium, by hydrogen. The issues involving efficiency, safety, operability and cost are discussed here.


Referências Bibliográficas

1. Matisova E, Dömötörova, M. Fast gas chromatography and its use in trace analysis. Journal of Chromatography A 2003.; 1000:199-221. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0021- 9673.(03)00310-8
2. Poole CF. The essence of chromatography. Amsterdã: Elsevier; 2003. chapt. 2, p. 83-86.
3. Cramers CA, Leclercq PA. Strategies for speed optimisation in gas chromatography: an overview. Journal of Chromatography A 1999; 842; 3-1311. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(98)00894-2
4. Bartram RJ, Froehlich P. Considerations on Switching from Helium to Hydrogen. LCGC North America 2010; 28(10):890-900.
5. Grob RL, Barry, EF. Modern Practice of Gas Chromatography. 4rd ed. John Wiley & Sons; 2004. chapt. 10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/0471651141
6. Parker Hannifin Corporation. In-House Generation of Hydrogen for Gas Chromatography 2009, LCGC. Online. Available from: http://chromatographyonline. findanalytichem.com/lcgc/article/articleDetail. jsp?id=581405
7. Grob K. Working Safely with Hydrogen as a Carrier Gas. Available from: http://www.restek.com/ Technical-Resources/Technical-Library/Editorial/ editorial_A016.
8. Hinshaw JV. Frequently Asked Questions about Hydrogen Carrier Gas. LCGC North America 2008. Available from: http://chromatographyonline. findanalytichem.com/lcgc/article/articleDetail. jsp?id=564647.
9. Maštovská K, Lehotay SJ. Practical approaches to fast gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Journal of Chromatography A 2003; 1000:153-180. http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/S0021-9673(03)00448-5
10. Heseltine J. Hydrogen as a Carrier Gas for GC and GC-MS. LCGC North America 2010; 28:1. Available from: http://chromatographyonline.findanalytichem. com/lcgc/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=653133.
11. Pedroso MP, Godoy LAF, Fidelis CHV, Ferreira EC, Poppi, RJ, Augusto F. Cromatografia gasosa bidimensional abrangente (GC×GC). Quimica Nova 2009; 32:422-430. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/ S0100-40422009000200029
12. Blumberg LM. Theory of fast capillary gas chromatography – Part 3: Column performance vs. gas flow rate. HRC-J. Journal of High Resolution Chromatography 1999; 22(7):403-413. http://dx.doi. org/10.1002/(SICI)1521-4168(19990701)22:7.