USE OF SULFUR CHEMILUMINESCENCE DETECTION AFTER SUPERCRITICAL FLUID CHROMATOGRAPHY

A newly developed sulfur chemiluminescence detector is evaluated for supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). The detection chemistry for sulfur chemiluminescence detection (SCD) is based on the chemiluminescent reaction between sulfur monoxide, which is produced from the decomposition of sulfur-containing analytes in a H2/O2-reducing flame and ozone. Detection limits are determined to be 12 pg sulfur via capillary-column SFC-SCD. Detector linearity is three orders of magnitude, and a selectivity of at least 107 was obtained. Quenching of SCD signals resulting from both the supercritical-fluid mobile phase and co-eluting hydrocarbons is discussed. Separations of thermally labile pesticides, and the determination of the ethylene oxide distribution for a thioethoxylate surfactant are demonstrated. © 1990.