Gas Chromatographic Analysis of Reactive Gases in Air

The ability of various columns for the qualitative separation of mixtures of reactive (NO, NO2, SO2, HCl, H2S, Cl2, NH3) and other gases (CO2, N2O) in air was evaluated. No single column was found which was effective for the separation of all these compounds. A two section column of Porapak Q and Porapak R provided adequate separation of NO and air. The air-N2O-CO2 separation was best on a QF-1 Fluoro column. H2S, Cl2 and SO2 can be analyzed on either of two columns: silicone oil SF-96 or triacetin. These columns were also effective in making the air-CO2-NH3 separation. Symmetric, reproducible, sharp peaks were obtained for NO2 on Kel-F 90 grease and Fluorolube KG 1200 columns. Both of these columns, while providing a somewhat inferior peak shape, completely separated NO2 from all other compounds tested.