DETERMINATION OF REACTIVE HYDROCARBONS BY CAPILLARY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH THE REDUCTION GAS DETECTOR

The reduction gas detector has been used successfully for the capillary GC determination of C-2-C-6 alkenes and isoprene. The detection limits have been improved by using a capillary GC column. The peak shapes for hydrocarbons above C-6 (benzene, toluene, p-xylene, o-xylene, alpha-pinene and beta-pinene) are very broad and tailing due to their slow and incomplete reactions with HgO at the maximum temperature (300 degrees C) achievable with the present reduction gas detector. If the HgO bed temperature of the detector could be increased, the system might be applicable to the detection of higher-molecular-mass compounds.