Post-column reaction with a 3D-printed two-stage microreactor and flame ionization detection for carbon compound independent response in fast gas chromatography.

ABSTRACT

Fast gas chromatography that leverages the high chromatographic efficiency of narrow bore capillary column technology and temperature programming was successfully integrated with a third-generation low void-volume, 3D-printed two-stage microreactor. Effective management of extra-column effect and the capability to perform post-column backflushing were achieved with the incorporation of a recently commercialized, electronically controlled pneumatic switching device and a deactivated metal three-way microdevice. With this configuration, narrow bore capillary columns having internal diameters between 0.10 and 0.15 mm can be employed to produce chromatographic peaks in the domain of fast gas chromatography, with peak widths at half-height ranging from 0.42 s to 0.92 s for probe compounds having k over a range from 1.7 for toluene to 60 with the last analyte (nC44) eluted in less than 12 min. The carbon independent response capability of the 3D-printed microreactor affords unique and advantaged differentiators, for instance, conducting measurement of the target analytes using one single carbon-containing compound for calibration with an acceptable accuracy of ±10%, achieving a higher degree of accuracy by eliminating the need for multi-level and multi-compound calibration, and improving sensitivity for compounds that are not efficiently ionized by flame ionization detection. Using this platform, repeatability of retention times for 14 probe compounds was less than 0.1% RSD (n = 10), and less than 1.0% RSD (n = 10) for area counts. The utility of the analytical approach was illustrated with relevant, challenging applications.