ONLINE INFRARED IDENTIFICATION OF GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY EFFLUENTS

On-line infrared spectra obtained with the Norcon RS-1 gas chromatographic identifier are of sufficient quality for qualitative identification of functional groups, chemical classes, or chemical entities. Identification limits for chemical entities vary between 20 and 200 mu g, polar compounds having higher sensitivities. Functional group identifications can be made with correspondingly smaller samples. A 5-fold increase in sensitivity was demonstrated using signal-averaging techniques.