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Troubleshooting of GC Systems
Troubleshooting of GC Systems
GC Systems
Techniques, Tips, and Tricks
Daron Decker
Chromatography Technical Specialist
Troubleshooting of GC Systems
Agilent Restricted
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Logical Troubleshooting
G
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Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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Installation problem
Large injection volume
Very slow injection rate
Leak in the injector
Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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Dirty sample
Mixed sample solvent
Impure solvent
Column temperature < solvent BP
Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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Split Peaks
Which peaks?
Early or late?
Trends?
Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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No Peaks
Detector/recorder not operational
Plugged syringe/plunger not moving
Wrong injector or detector
Broken column
Huge leak
No carrier gas flow
No column
Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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put glass piece over FID outlet----Answer in this case, Water condenses
look at output in instrument guage-- is the digital value greater than 0.0?
Answer in this case is approximately 16.2 pico amps
Take syringe out and make injection manually on a dry paper towel
Answer towel stayes dry (Syringe was clogged with septum)
Pull plunger out top, add solvent and replace plunger will usually dislodge septum particle
(should hear a little pop)
If you cant dislodge plug, Replace syringe
Reassemble the Injector & Re-inject
Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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Peaks !!
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Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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Peak Response
All Change in Size
INJECTOR
Leaky syringe
Split ratio set incorrectly
Wrong purge activation time
Septum purge flow too high
Injector temperature too low
Peak Response
Some Change in Size
Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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Peak Tailing
Peak Fronting
Shark Fin Shaped
Overload
More pronounced with large solute and
phase polarity differences
Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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Peak Fronting
Other
Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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2.00
4.75
2.75
5.50
Change in temperature
3.25
4.00
Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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1400 ng
7 ng
10
11
min
Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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Loss of Resolution
Separation
Peak Width
Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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Loss of Resolution
Separation Decrease
Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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Loss of Resolution
Peak Broadening
Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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Baseline Disturbances
Sudden Changes, Wandering, or Drifting
WANDER
Column or detector not fully conditioned
Changes in carrier and detector gas flows
Valves switching, leaks
DRIFT
Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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Noisy Baseline
MILD
SEVERE
Contamination, gas, detector, etc.
Column in detector flame
Incorrect detector gas flows
Air leak - ECD, TCD
Detector electronics malfunction
Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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Spiking Baseline
Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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Negative Peaks
Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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Flat-Topped Peaks
Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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Quantitation Problems
System
Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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Quantitation Problems
Technique or Conditions
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Troubleshooting Tips
1. Isolate the problem.
(Blank Run, Inject Un-retained Compound, Jumper Tube Test)
Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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TECHNICAL SUPPORT
1-800-227-9770, #4, #1
1-972-699-6423 (Daron)
1-877-874-0307 (toll free)
281-997-9107 (FAX)
E-mail:
Daron_Decker@Agilent.com
Troubleshooting of GC Systems
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