A dual ion-selective electrode detector for the simultaneous detection of bromine- and chlorine- containing compounds in gas chromatography

Abstract

A dual ion-selective electrode gas chromatographic detector which allows the simultaneous detection of chlorine- and bromine-containing compounds through two-channel operation is described. Components eluted from the g.c. column are hydrogenated, the hydrogen chloride and hydrogen bromide produced being absorbed in a standard solution of halide; the ion concentrations in the resulting solution are monitored by chloride- and bromide-selective electrodes. The dual electrode detector gives two chromatograms simultaneously, one selective for chlorine- and bromine-containing compounds and the other for bromine-containing compounds. The response ratio, i.e., the peak area of the readout from the chloride channel divided by that from the bromide channel for the same compound, gives valuable information. The Cl/Br ratio in an eluted molecule can be determined accurately from the response ratio if a standard reference compound is injected simultaneously.