Pulsed discharge emission detector: an element-selective detector for gas chromatography

• Published in: Journal of Chromatography A Vol. 872; no. 1; pp. 119 - 140
• Main Authors: Wentworth, W.E, Sun, Kefu, Zhang, De, Madabushi, Janardhan, Stearns, Stanley D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 03.03.2000; Elsevier
• Subjects: Analytical chemistry; Chemistry; Chromatographic methods and physical methods associated with chromatography; Chromatography, Gas - instrumentation; Exact sciences and technology; Gas chromatographic methods; Organohalogen compounds; Sensitivity and Specificity; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet - instrumentation; Sulfur compounds; Sulfur compounds; Pulsed discharge emission detector; Organohalogen compounds; Detection, GC; Thiol; Chemical analysis; Organic perhalocompound; Selectivity; Experimental study; Organic sulfide; Gas chromatography; Sulfur Compounds; Organic disulfide; Pulsed discharge; Halogenated hydrocarbon; Carbon disulfide; Qualitative analysis; Detection; Atomic emission spectroscopy; Photoionization detector; Comparative study; Halogen Organic compounds
• ISSN: 0021-9673
• DOI: 10.1016/S0021-9673(99)01174-7

An element-specific pulsed discharge emission detector (PDED) has been coupled directly with a vacuum UV monochromator so that vacuum UV atomic emissions from Cl, Br, I and S can be observed. The observed sensitivities for the elements are in the range of mid to high pg/s, but can be lowered by direct absorption of the radiation using a vacuum UV radiation photomultiplier tube. A helium pulsed discharge photoionization detector (He-PDPID) was run simultaneously in parallel with the PDED. The chromatograms recorded with the two detectors had similar peak shapes, suggesting that there is no peak tailing in the PDED. The ratio of the detector responses PDED/He-PDPID can be used for qualitative identification of the Cl-, Br-, I- or S-containing compounds.