Evaluation of a micro gas chromatographic technique for environmental analyses of CO2 and C-1-C-6 alkanes

A performance evaluation of a portable gas chromatograph (Chrompack CP2002P), equipped with a micro thermal conductivity detection (micro-TCD) system was conducted for carbonious gases of environmental relevance, by analysis of calibration standards, atmospheric air samples and bottled mineral water samples compared with air-saturated water samples. The reliability of an headspace equilibration method has also been tested for application to gas dissolved in natural waters. The instrument has been tested for its sensitivity, reproducibility, linearity and retention time stability. The miniaturization technique of the micro gas chromatograph allows for analyses much faster than those of traditional TCD equipped gas chromatographs: complete run time, including C-6, is about 30 s. This rapidity may allow a large number of field data to be achieved over a short time and the immediate analysis on site may drive the survey strategy as the results are examined. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.