SURFACE IONIZATION DETECTOR FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY

Here is reported the combination of microcolumn high-performance liquid chromatography with an on-line surface ionization detector (HPLC-SID). This device was developed using commercial gas chromatography instrumentation and an interface to vaporize the chromatographic effluent. Addition of air at a flow rate of at least 50mL/min to the effluent enhanced sensitivity and reduced baseline noise. Tributylamine was detected by the device with a minimum detectable amount of 3.0x10(-12)g/sec at a signal-to-noise ratio of three in a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile/water at a flow rate of 6 mu L/min. The signal was linear with concentration for at least 3 orders of magnitude. Preliminary results for effluents of aromatic hydrocarbons are presented as an example of the capabilities of the HPLC-SID system.