Flow control in Gas Chromatography

Reliable, sensitive, and selective high-resolution measurements within a reasonable time frame are among the expectations of a Gas Chromatography user. Being aware of the analytical market prospect, Bronkhorst has been developing innovative solutions throughout the years to meet quality requests of gas chromatography/GC manufacturers.

The Bronkhorst flow controllers have a compact design, offering stable gas flow control, good reproducibility and simple integration in your process. Features which are very much desired for Gas Chromatography users. 

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Process solution

Gas chromatography is a widely used analytical technique which allows the qualitative and quantitative characterization of a sample. Such sample is injected through a sample injector in a stream of carrier gas. The gas stream is controlled using a high accuracy mass flow controller (IQ⁺ FLOW series). The sample to analyse will go through the stationary heated column where its components elute at different times. Analytes are then detected by a specific type of detector. Each component of the sample will generate a different peak, enabling sample’s constituents identification. The attained peaks also permit a quantitative analysis through the calculation of the peaks areas.

Chemical plants frequently use these analysers to check process parameters in real time, thereby requiring faster run times. Such a requirement is hard to achieve, because it is difficult to reach a good balance between faster cycles while keeping acceptable levels of separation.

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Analysis becomes much faster if a higher flow rate is used, but by doing so the separation between analytes will be less efficient, therefore increasing flow rates may compromise the analyser’s sensitivity.