Gas chromatography with flame ionization and flameless sulfur chemiluminescence detectors in series for dual channel detection of sulfur compounds

Abstract

The dual-channel detection of samples with detectors coupled in series is possible only when the first detector is a non-destructive one. However, the configuration where a destructive detector, such as the flame ionization detector (FID), is followed by the flameless, sulfur chemiluminescence detector (flameless SCD) can be used to detect simultaneously carbon and sulfur. In this work, the FID and flameless SCD are coupled in series for dual-channel detection of sulfur compounds in three gasoline samples. Optimum conditions for flameless SCD were evaluated by altering the flow rates of hydrogen and air and the oxygen pressure to the ozone generator. Samples are identified by retention indices where the homologous n-alkylthiols are used as standards. The increment in retention index per carbon number of the n-alkylthiols is 105.54 in the Quadrex 007 series, 0.32 mm i.d., 4 μm film, column.