High-resolution gas chromatographic determination of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds in complex organic mixtures by a tunable selective thermionic detector

Abstract

A flame thermionic detector, allowing unambiguous distinction between nitrogen compounds and phosphorus compounds in complex organic matrices, is described. If necessary, the interfering carbon compounds can be almost totally suppressed or identified as negative peaks in the chromatogram. The different selectivity profiles are achieved by actuating specific detector configurations without any modification of the operating conditions, such as gas flow, alkali-source temperature or electrode-polarizing voltage. The selective determination of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds in complex samples of natural origin, performed by capillary gas chromatography is reported.