Grantee Research Project Results

2000 Progress Report: Field-Usable Compact Capillary Based Liquid/Ion Chromatographs - Real Time Gas/Aerosol Analyzers

EPA Grant Number: R825344
Title: Field-Usable Compact Capillary Based Liquid/Ion Chromatographs - Real Time Gas/Aerosol Analyzers
Investigators: Dasgupta, Purnendu K.
Institution: Towson University
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: October 15, 1996 through October 14, 1999
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 15, 1999 through October 14, 2000
Project Amount: $333,141
RFA: Analytical and Monitoring Methods (1996) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , Environmental Statistics , Air Quality and Air Toxics , Water , Air , Land and Waste Management

Objective:

Ion and liquid chromatography are two of the most widely used techniques in environmental analysis. Both remain relegated to the laboratory due to the lack of truly portable and robust equipment. The objectives of the present project is to construct capillary liquid and ion chromatographs, containing appropriate detectors that will be easily portable and useable in the field. All operational control and data acquisition will be provided by a laptop personal computer. The chromatographic efficiencies will rival those of present day conventional size benchtop instruments.

Progress Summary:

A high-temperature, high-speed, gradient-capable, small-footprint portable capillary-scale liquid chromatography system was developed. The system, constructed in-house from readily available inexpensive components, is capable of operating at temperatures as high as 200°C and pressures up to 10,000 psi. Due to the reduction of the eluent viscosity and enhanced mass transport at elevated temperatures, the optimum flow rate is much higher than at ambient temperature. Further, performance limitations, due to poor mass transport at flow rates higher than the optimum, are greatly reduced. The high pressure capability of the system then allows operation at unusually high flow rates, enabling high-speed gradient separations with excellent performance on temperature stable zirconia and titania based packings. The separation of eight alkylbenzene derivatives in less than 2 minutes was shown.

In a second phase of this work, the system, was modified to work at temperatures as high as 400°C and pressures up to 11,000 psi. Only hot water was used as eluent. The capability of the system was demonstrated with the separation of a mixture of polar and non-polar benzene derivatives on polybutadiene and elemental carbon modified zirconia packings with or without temperature gradients. Six benzene derivatives could be separated in ~2 minutes. The use of a flame ionization detector with the superheated water eluent was successfully carried out.

Future Activities:

We will prepare and submit the final report for the grant.

Journal Articles on this Report : 2 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Publications Views
Other project views:	All 15 publications	7 publications in selected types	All 7 journal articles

Publications
Type	Citation	Project	Document Sources
Journal Article	Kephart TS, Dasgupta PK. Hot eluent capillary liquid chromatography using zirconia and titania based stationary phases. Analytica Chimica Acta 2000;414(1-2):71-78.	R825344 (1999) R825344 (2000) R825344 (Final)	Full-text: Science Direct-Full Text HTML Exit Abstract: Science Direct-Abstract Exit Other: Science Direct-Full Text PDF Exit
Journal Article	Kephart TS, Dasgupta PK. Superheated water eluent capillary liquid chromatography. Talanta 2002;56(6):977-987.	R825344 (2000) R825344 (Final)	Full-text: ScienceDirect-Full Text HTML Exit Abstract: Europe PMC-Abstract Exit Other: ScienceDirect-Full Text PDF Exit

Supplemental Keywords:

ion chromatography, liquid chromatography, portable analyzers, environmental analysis, superheated water., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Air, Engineering, Chemistry, particulate matter, Environmental Chemistry, Monitoring/Modeling, National Center for Atmospheric Research, aerosols, field portable monitoring, ambient aerosol, environmental monitoring, ambient particle properties, environmental measurement, real-time monitoring, optical detectors, aerosol analyzers, analytical chemistry

Relevant Websites:

http://www.ttu.edu/~chem/faculty/dasgupta/dasgupta.html Exit

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.