General Note
Derivatization can be used for extending the spectrum of GC detectable substances by lowering their polarity and enhancing volatility as well as peak
performance.
Name
AbbreviaƟon
SelecƟvity
DetecƟon
limit
Linearity
range
Flame ionisation
detector
FID
universal
low pg C
> 10 6
Electrons capture
detector
ECD
selective
(halogens, S)
strongly
compound
depending
(down to fg)
10 4
Thermal conductivity
detector
TCD
universal
Low ng
10 5
Flame photometry
detector
FPD
selective
(S, P)
low pg S
high fg P
10 3
10 4
Nitrogen/phosphor
detector
NPD
selective
(N, P)
high fg N,S
10 5
10 -15 g
1 0 -12 g
1 0 -9 g
1 0 -6 g
1 0 -3 g
TCD
FID
ECD
NPD
FPD
fg
pg
ng
µg
mg
Fig. 4.9 Parameters of different GC detectors and an illustration of the detector sensitivities and
linearity ranges (partly modified after Cammann 2010)
48
4 Instrumental Analysis