Determination of reactive hydrocarbons by capillary gas chromatography with the reduction gas detector

Abstract

The reduction gas detector has been used successfully for the capillary GC determination of C 2C 6 alkenes and isoprene. The detection limits have been improved by using a capillary GC column. The peak shapes for hydrocarbons above C 6 (benzene, toluene, p- xylene, o-xylene, α-pinene and β-pinene) are very broad and tailing due to their slow and incomplete reactions with HgO at the maximum temperature (300°C) achievable with the present reduction gas detector. If the HgO bed temperature of the detector could be increased, the system might be applicable to the detection of higher-molecular-mass compounds.