Capillary column installation quick reference guide

Agilent Support Insights

This Information Applies To: All Agilent Gas Chromatographs, 6890, 6850, 7890, 7820, 8890, and 8860.

Issue:

A quick reference guide on the capillary column installation for the GC inlets and detectors.

Steps to follow:

Inlets

Split/Splitless inlet

1. Place a septum over the column, then the column nut and ferrule. Trim the end of the column with a column cutter.
2. Pull the column back so that 4-6 mm of the column is extending past the end of the ferrule (see Figure 1).
3. Thread the column nut and column into the inlet and tighten slightly past where the column grabs – retighten after heating.

Figure 1 1. Ferrule 2. Column nut 3. Septum

Purged packed inlet

1. Place a septum over the column, then the column nut and ferrule. Trim the end of the column with a column cutter.
2. Pull the column back so that 1-2 mm of the column is extending past the end of the ferrule (see Figure 2).
3. Thread the column nut and column into the inlet and tighten slightly past where the column grabs – retighten after heating.

Figure 2

Multimode Inlet

Note: Make sure that the column adapter nut on the inlet base is fully threaded on and spinning freely – Collar Up! (see Figure 3)

Position the column so it extends 10 to 12 mm（for high boilers you can use 12 to 14 mm）above the end of the ferrule (see Figure 4). 

Figure 4

Tighten with two wrenches - 1/4” and 5/16” to prevent damage the inlet threads (see Figure 5).

Figure 5

Cool On Column (COC) Inlet

Insert the column all the way into the inlet until you feel the spring tension – do not withdraw.

Tighten with two wrenches - 1/4” and 5/16” to avoid damaging the inlet (see Figure 5).

PTV Inlet

There should be 17 mm of the column above the Graphpak ferrule – the Graphpak ferrule should be installed with the graphite end towards the inlet base (see Figure 6).

The column nut is slotted. Use a 5 mm wrench to tighten the fitting.

Figure 6

Volatiles Interface (VI) Inlet

There is a longer column nut for the VI so that you don’t have to remove the inlet block. The column nut number is G3504-20504.

Figure 7

Detectors

FID/NPD 

1. Place a septum over the column, then the column nut and ferrule. Trim the end of the column with a column cutter.
2. Thread the column nut and column into the detector base. Gently insert the column into the detector until it bottoms, then withdraw 1 to 2 mm before tightening the nut.
3. The dimensions shown of 48 and 68 mm are provided for very narrow columns (<100um) which may go all the way through the jet.

Figure 8

TCD – Using the standard Low Leakage Ferrules

1. Place a 1/8” Swagelok nut and the back and front ferrules over the column. (Be sure to select the front ferrule size to match the column) Trim the end of the column with a column cutter.
2. Thread the column nut and column into the detector base. Insert the column all the way into the detector jet until it stops, then withdraw 1 to 2 mm before tightening the nut. Retighten after heating.

Figure 9 1. Front ferrule 2. Back ferrule 3. Nut

TCD – Original Design Column Adapter

1. Install the column adapter to the 1/8” Swagelok TCD base using a graphite/vespel ferrule.
2. Thread the column nut and column into the adapter. Insert the column into the detector until it bottoms, then withdraw 1 to 2 mm before tightening the nut.

Figure 10 1. Ferrule, 1/8-inch 2. Nut, 1/8-inch 3. Capillary column adapter

uECD

• Thread the column nut with column into the make-up gas adapter. Insert the column all the way into the mixing liner until it stops, then withdraw 1 to 2 mm - Use 2 wrenches to tighten the nut. Retighten after heating.
• Be sure that the make-up gas adapter is installed with the 19 mm dimension shown (see Figure 11).

  Figure 11

• The 70 mm dimension shown is provided for very narrow columns (<100um) which may go all the way through the mixing liner (see Figure 12).

  Figure 12

FPD

1. Install the column into the Column Measuring Tool Provided.
2. Trim the column such that 1 mm extends from the end of the tool.
3. Tighten the column nut and mark the position of the column at the back of the nut.
4. Install into the detector base.

Figure 13 1. Score column here 2. Column measuring tool 3. Ferrule  4. Column nut 5. The column length * * It depends on the GC and FPD type. FPD+ for 7890B,8890,8860 is 137.5 mm, FPD for 7890A, and some 6890 is 145 mm, FPD for some early 6890 is153 mm.

Keywords: GC column installation, Capillary column installation, GC inlet, GC detector