Matched FID Burner for Supercritical Fluid Chromatography
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In supercritical fluid chromatography, flame ionization detection systems face challenges with mismatched column and inner burner gas flows, requiring complex adjustments and lengthy optimizations when changing column diameters, which impacts sensitivity and stability of the flame.
Innovation Solution
A method to match the inner diameter of the FID burner with the chromatographic column's optimal mobile phase flow rate, using a fixed outer burner that accommodates multiple inner burners of different sizes, allowing for quick adaptation to various flow rates and eliminating the need for extensive optimizations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the FID burner diameter is altered to reduce the linear velocity of the decompressed mobile phase flow through the burner, then a steady flame can be maintained, but detector hardware alterations and lengthy optimizations must be performed every time the separation column geometry is changed
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a replaceable inner burner design that allows the burner diameter to be dynamically changed based on the column internal diameter being used. This dynamic adaptability enables the linear velocity through the burner to be optimized for each column configuration, maintaining flame stability without requiring complex hardware alterations or lengthy optimization procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter of burner inner diameter to match the column internal diameter. By providing a set of inner burners with different diameters (e.g., 0.5mm, 0.8mm, 1.0mm, 1.5mm, 2.0mm) corresponding to different column IDs (e.g., 0.2mm, 0.3mm, 0.4mm, 0.5mm, 0.6mm, 1.0mm, 2.1mm, 4.6mm), the system optimizes the linear velocity through the burner for each column configuration, thereby maintaining flame stability and detector sensitivity.
2Productivity
If the mobile phase flow rate is increased for analytical-scale packed column SFC, then higher productivity is achieved, but the decompressed flow rate can exceed 2,500 mL/min which is incompatible with traditional GC instrumentation designed for 0.5-60 mL/min
Solution Approach 1:
The burner system is segmented into a fixed outer burner and a replaceable inner burner. The inner burner can be exchanged based on the flow rate requirements of different column configurations. This segmentation allows the system to handle high flow rates from analytical-scale packed column SFC (up to 2,500 mL/min) by using an inner burner with appropriate diameter, while the outer burner provides structural support and gas distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts to different flow rates by allowing replacement of the inner burner with appropriate diameter. When high productivity is required with analytical-scale packed columns generating high flow rates, a larger inner burner diameter is selected to accommodate the higher decompressed flow rate, making the system compatible with SFC instrumentation while maintaining proper flame ionization detection.
3Adaptability or versatility
If flow splitting is used to reduce the decompressed mobile phase flow rate to the detector, then compatibility with traditional FID is achieved, but sensitivity is negatively impacted and quantitation variability is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using flow splitting, the invention changes the burner inner diameter parameter to match the column internal diameter and flow rate. This direct matching approach allows the full decompressed mobile phase flow to reach the detector without splitting, thereby maintaining detector sensitivity and avoiding quantitation variability while achieving compatibility through proper burner-column matching.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces the time needed for optimizing detector response, ensures consistent detector sensitivity, and simplifies method development by providing a plug-and-play solution for chromatography systems, enabling efficient operation across different column diameters.
Implementation Method 1
flame ionization detection (FID) for carbon dioxide based chromatography
Implementation Method 2
chromatographic column with an internal diameter
Implementation Method 3
supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC)
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to flame based detection methods for compressed mobile phase chromatography. In particular, the present disclosure relates to the operation of a flame ionization detector for carbon dioxide based chromatography, such as supercritical fluid chromatography. The present disclosure includes a method of matching a chromatographic column with a flame ionization detector inner burner including providing a chromatographic column with an internal diameter, determining an optimal mobile phase flow rate for the chromatographic column, calculating an optimal inner diameter of the inner burner that combined with the internal diameter and flow rate of the column produces optimal detector performance, and providing a flame ionization detector inner burner having an inner diameter substantially equal to the calculated optimal inner diameter.