Surface Ionization Detector for High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

Here is reported the combination of microcolumn high-performance liquid chromatography with an on-line surface ionization detector (HPLC-SID). This device was developed using commercial gas chromatography instrumentation and an interface to vaporize the chromatographic effluent. Addition of air at a flow rate of at least 50 mL/min to the effluent enhanced sensitivity and reduced baseline noise. Tributylamine was detected by the device with a minimum detectable amount of 3.0 × 10⁻¹² g/sec at a signal-to-noise ratio of three in a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile/water at a flow rate of 6 µL/min. The signal was linear with concentration for at least 3 orders of magnitude. Preliminary results for effluents of aromatic hydrocarbons are presented as an example of the capabilities of the HPLC-SID system.

Keywords:

• Detector
• Liquid chromatography
• SID
• Surface ionization

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. H. Arimoto and Mr. K. Mizuno of KM Science Corp. for their contribution to the development of the HPLC-SID.