Custom GC-AED Solutions

Diablo's GC-AED experts have been developing methods on the GC-AED since 1989.
	The GC-AED can be applied to hundreds of applications in petrochemical, environmental, food and electronics industries. Work includes most elements available on the GC-AED and some custom AED element applications.

Summary of Solutions

GC-AED Method and Application Development
Custom GC-AED Configurations
Custom Automation and Software Solutions
Quotation and Purchasing Information
Diablo's GC-AED Support Web Page

GC-AED Method and Application Development

Pesticides by GC-AED with EPA Method 8085

the GC-AED can screen samples for pesticides on an elemental basis. Phosphorus, nitrogen, chlorine, sulfur, and many other elements can be used to selectively screen for pesticides that contain those elements. Unlike GC-MS, the GC-AED technique can produce an elemental chromatogram with all phosphorus or chlorine peaks, for example. The GC-AED can show both target and non-target peaks that contain certain elements. GC-AED and GC-MS are complementary tools in many applications.

Sulfur and Nitrogen in Petroleum Fluids by GC-AED

Sulfur and nitrogen can be measured in hydrocarbon liquids and fuels at ppm levels. These measurements can be performed for gasoline, diesel, middle distillates and crude oils. In these applications, the inlet and column configuration must be compatible with the carbon number range of interest. Split, on-column or PTV injection is used with methyl silicone columns of various dimensions, depending on the application. Longer columns provide better individual peak determinations while shorter columns produce a simulated-distillation-type result.

Impurities in Light Hydrocarbons by GC-AED

The ability to measure impurities in propylene, ethylene and other light hydrocarbons can be critical for production success. The GC-AED provides an excellent measurement for sulfur-, phosphorus-, nitrogen-, chlorine- and arsenic-containing impurities in these products. This application often requires specialized sampling and valve systems, which Diablo can help specify and design.

Organometallic Applications for GC-AED

Detection of volatile inorganic and organometallic species by gas chromatography is one of the unique capabilities of the GC-AED. Applications range from the detection of metal porphyrins in crude oil to the detection of trace inorganic compounds in ultra-high-purity semiconductor gases.

Compound Independent Calibration (CIC) by GC-AED

The GC-AED is uniquely able to perform quantitative GC analysis with a limited number of calibration standards using Compound-Independent Calibration (CIC) techniques. The GC-AED can be calibrated for a particular set of elements and then CIC allows quantitation of analytes that contain those elements. This is a powerful technique for complex mixtures, highly toxic species, and newly encountered compounds. Diablo's CIC-Quant software helps AED users automate CIC method calculations and reporting.

GC-AED as a Lab Problem Solving Tool

Laboratory problem solving is a frequent activity. A toolbox of analytical techniques and process knowledge allows the formation of conclusions about the problem. The GC-AED combined with a GC-MS is a powerful combination. The GC-AED can perform screening for complex mixtures. The GC-MS can identify unknowns. Finally the GC-AED can quickly estimate concentrations with the CIC technique.

Custom GC-AED Configurations

GC-AED System Optimization

The GC-AED allows reagent gas, make-up gas, solvent vent times, and detector temperatures to be set as part of the method. These parameters can greatly affect the GC-AED performance. Optimization allows the GC-AED to be matched to the GC conditions and result in the best possible information.

GC-AED for trace detection in the electronics industry

The electronics industry requires very pure reagents and raw materials for manufacturing. The sensitivity and selectivity of the GC-AED allows very unique analytical measurements to be performed for demanding electronics industry applications. Usually this application area requires very specialized valve configurations.

GC-AED with GC-MS for Integrated Results

GC-AED and GC-MS are excellent and complementary tools in the laboratory. However, these instruments generally create separate data files. Software tools are available to combine GC-AED and GC-MS data for more complete information. GC-AED and GC-MS can also be combined into one GC using column-splitting techniques for special applications. However, this approach is difficult to implement properly, and is not recommended unless the sample availability is limited.

GC-AED with Thermal-based Sample Introduction

GC-AED is limited to analytes that can be introduced into and pass through a GC system. Sample preparation techniques like solvent extraction have traditionally been used to allow difficult samples to prepared for GC compatibility. However, other sample introduction techniques like headspace, thermal desorption, and pyrolysis can also be used to help the GC-AED analyze complex samples.

Hydrogen measurements with GC-AED

The ability to measure hydrogen and carbon distribution in fuels is another unique capability of the GC-AED. However, hydrogen measurements require special configuration of the AED and more careful calibration than other elements.

Custom Automation and Software Solutions

The programmers at Diablo Analytical have been creating custom software solutions for chemical measurement applications for more than a decade. We combine Agilent ChemStation macros with Visual Basic (or VBA) applications to solve specific data processing problems. A few example projects that we have completed are listed below.

CICQuant Software for Automated CIC Reporting

Compound Independent Calibration (CIC) is one of the key features of the Atomic Emission Detector. Agilent included a set of menu options in the AED ChemStation that allow CIC calculations to be performed interactively. However, the calculations could not be performed automatically on a set of samples running from a sequence. Diablo addressed this problem with our CICQuant software. For more information on CICQuant, please see the CICQuant product page.

Unified Method Macros for the AED ChemStation

In it's normal mode of operation, the GC-AED must perform separate injections and GC separations for each different element group that is present in a method (element groups contain elements that share the same reagent gases, make-up gas flow rate, and spectrometer position). In rare circumstances, multiple injections and separations are not feasible due to sample or analysis-time restrictions. Diablo developed the Unified Method Macros to address this issue for a client. This set of macros provides a way to link separate methods together in a manner that allows element groups to be switched in the middle of a run so that only a single injection needs to be made. This approach cannot be used for all GC-AED applications, so please contact Diablo Analytical if you are interested in this capability.

Simplified User Interface for Agilent GC and LC ChemStations

One-button control of an Agilent GC or LC ChemStation Sequence. The Simplified User Interface (SUI) greatly simplifies the operation of the ChemStation. See our Simplified User Interface product page for more information. We have developed custom versions of the SUI software to address specific customer requirements. Please contact Diablo Analytical for more information.

Quotation and Purchasing Information

Please contact Diablo Analytical to discuss your specific application requirements and to receive a project quotation.

Diablo Analytical, Inc.
5141 Lone Tree Way
Antioch, CA 94531

Phone: (925) 755-1005
Fax: (925) 755-1007

E-Mail: info@diabloanalytical.com