Design and Operation of Circulating Chain Detectors for Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

A detection principle for liquid chromatography is described. The method of detection is based upon a difference in volatility between the solvent and solute, the latter being detected by means of a hydrogen flame detector after previous evaporation of the solvent. Continuity of operation is achieved by a circulating chain or other carrier. The design has been developed and modified in order to improve the sensitivity and linearity and to achieve better stability. As presented now, the noise level of the detector is at the range of 2 × 10⁻¹³ and the minimum detectable amount of sample is of the order of one nanogram. Examples of applications to liquid chromatography of lipids in packed adsorption columns, organophilic gel columns as well as open capillary columns are illustrated.