Issue with GCD

After sitting in standby mode for awhile (days), when my GCD first turns on the filaments (after a 3 min solvent delay) there is immediately a broad peak that lasts perhaps 10-15 seconds, and it presents very different masses depending if you sample it at the beginning, middle or end. It is weaker on the subsequent samples, but never seems to go away altogether. I assume this is from junk accumulating on the filaments that then burns off. But why does it always seem to be there?

Parents
  • If is the same method you have been using. Might need to trim off column and do inlet maint. Like James said some how solvent inject peak is being retained, might be residue holding it up.

     

    Mitch

  • Mitch:  I did a blank run with no injection made, and the peak was still there. I’ve enclosed a scan of it and the MS it gives. Notice how it rises up at first, rather than dropping off continually (like retained solvent would do). Do you recognize the masses at all? I wonder if it could be contamination from vacuum pump (or diffusion pump) oil, or maybe PFK if the solenoid isn’t closing securely? Thanks.

    Chuck Garner

    U of Memphis

    attachments.zip
  • If it is an MS problem it should be there throughout the entire run, so you would see it across the whole chromatogram. However like James and Mitch state, it is likely carry over in the inlet.

    What solvents do you typically inject with and what is the main analyte you look for? Because it comes off the column so early would suggest a light compound with minimal column retention.

     

    I would check under the septum for any residue (already changed the liner), inspect and change the gold seal, potentially change the split vent trap, and if they don't work, I'd even clean the split vent line with a volatile solvent then evaporate it off.

Reply
  • If it is an MS problem it should be there throughout the entire run, so you would see it across the whole chromatogram. However like James and Mitch state, it is likely carry over in the inlet.

    What solvents do you typically inject with and what is the main analyte you look for? Because it comes off the column so early would suggest a light compound with minimal column retention.

     

    I would check under the septum for any residue (already changed the liner), inspect and change the gold seal, potentially change the split vent trap, and if they don't work, I'd even clean the split vent line with a volatile solvent then evaporate it off.

Children
No Data
Was this helpful?