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- Similar stationary phases
- Gas chromatography
Excessive Baseline Noise
Possible Cause Solution Comments Injector contamination clean the injector gas lines may need cleaning Column contamination Bakeout the column
Solvent rinse the columnLimit bakeout to 2 hrs.
Bonded and crosslinked phases onlyDetector contamination clean the detector noise increases over time, and not suddenly Contaminated or low quality gases use better grade gases
check for gas leaks and expired gas trapsusually occurs after changing a gas cylinder Incorrect detector gas flow rates adjust flow rates to recommended values consult literature Leak when using MS, ECD, or TCD find and eliminate the leak usually at the column fittings or injector Old detector filament, lamp, or multiplier replace appropriate part use new part Un-equilibrated detector allow detector to stabilize may require up to 24 hrs to fully stabilize Incompletely conditioned column fully condition column critical for trace level analyses
Change in Peak Size
Possible Cause Solution Comments Change in detector response Check gas flows, temperatures, and settings.Check background level or noise All peaks may not be equally affected.May be caused by system contamination and not the detector Co-elution Change column temperature or stationary phase Decrease column temperature and check for appearance of a peak shoulder or tail Change in the purge activation time Check the purge activation time For splitless injection Change in the injection volume Check injection technique Injection volumes are not linear Change in sample concentration Check and verify sample concentration Sample degradation, variances in sample temperature or ph Leak in the syringe Use a different syringe Sample leaks passed the plunger or around the needle, Leaks are often not readily visible Column contamination Trim the column
Solvent rinse the columnRemove about half to 1 meter from the front of the column. Only bonded and crosslinked phases Column activity Irreversible Only affects active compounds
Tailing Peaks
Possible Cause Solution Comments Column contamination Trim the column
Solvent rinse the columnTrim half to 1 meter from the front of the column
Only for bonded and crosslinked phasesColumn activity Irreversible Only affects active compounds Solvent-phase polarity mismatch Change sample solvent
Install a retention gapMore tailing for the eluting peaks, or those closest the solvent front
3 to 5 meter retention gap is sufficientSolvent effect violation for splitless or on-column injections Decrease the initial column temperature Peak tailing decreases with retentiongas lines may need cleaning Too low of a split-ratio Increase the split-ratior Flow from split vent should be 20ml / min or higher Poor column installation Reinstall the column More tailing for the early eluting peaks Some active compounds always tail None Most common for amines and carboxylic acids
Retention Time Shift
Possible Cause Solution Comments Change in carrier gas velocity Check gas velocity All peaks will shift in the same direction by approximately the same amount Change in column temperature Check column temperature Not all peaks will shift by the same amount Change in column dimension Verify column identity Switched column? Large change in compound concentration Use a different sample concentration May also affect adjacent peaks Leak in the injector Leak-check the injector Achange in the peak size occurs also Blockage in gas line Clean or replace clogged line Most common for split line. Check flow controllers and solenoids
Split Peaks
Possible Cause Solution Comments Injection technique Change technique Erratic plunger depression or having sample in needle Mixed sample solvent Change to single solvent Worse for solvents with large differences in polarity or boiling points Poor column installation Reinstall column in the injector Usually a large error in the insertion distance Sample degradation in the injector Reduce the injector temperature
Change to an on-column injectionPeak broadening or tailing may occur if the temperature is too low
Requires an on-column injectorEmail About Main index Copyright Disclaimer
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