In gas chromatography (GC), 10 common types of detectors include Flame Ionization Detector (FID), Thermal Conductivity Detector (TCD), Electron Capture Detector (ECD), Nitrogen-Phosphorus Detector (NPD), Flame Photometric Detector (FPD), Mass Spectrometer (MS), Photoionization Detector (PID), Helium Ionization Detector (HID), Thermionic Detector (TID), and Atomic Emission Detector (AED).

 

In gas chromatography (GC), 10 common types of detectors include Flame Ionization Detector (FID), Thermal Conductivity Detector (TCD), Electron Capture Detector (ECD), Nitrogen-Phosphorus Detector (NPD), Flame Photometric Detector (FPD), Mass Spectrometer (MS), Photoionization Detector (PID), Helium Ionization Detector (HID), Thermionic Detector (TID), and Atomic Emission Detector (AED). 

Here's a more detailed look at these detectors:

1. Flame Ionization Detector (FID):

Mechanism: Burns the sample in a hydrogen/air flame, ionizing the resulting particles, and measuring the resulting electrical current. 

Advantages: High sensitivity, linear response, and ruggedness. 

Disadvantages: Destructive to the sample, and less sensitive to non-hydrocarbon compounds. 

Applications: General-purpose detector for organic compounds. 

2. Thermal Conductivity Detector (TCD):

Mechanism: Measures the change in thermal conductivity of the carrier gas as the sample elutes.

Advantages: Non-destructive, simple, and can detect a wide range of compounds.

Disadvantages: Low sensitivity.

Applications: Useful for analyzing non-volatile compounds and gases. 

3. Electron Capture Detector (ECD):

Mechanism: Uses radioactive material (e.g., nickel-63) to ionize the carrier gas, and the sample interacts with the resulting electrons. 

Advantages: High sensitivity and selectivity for compounds with electronegative functional groups (e.g., halogens, nitrates, and conjugated carbonyls). 

Disadvantages: Limited linear range, and potentially dangerous due to radioactivity. 

Applications: Detection of pesticides, herbicides, and other environmental pollutants. 

4. Nitrogen-Phosphorus Detector (NPD):

Mechanism:

Detects nitrogen and phosphorus-containing compounds by measuring the ions produced during combustion at high temperatures.

Advantages:

High sensitivity and selectivity for nitrogen and phosphorus-containing compounds.

Disadvantages:

Less sensitive to other compounds.

Applications:

Analysis of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and other nitrogen- and phosphorus-containing compounds. 

5. Flame Photometric Detector (FPD):

Mechanism: Measures the light emitted by the flame when sulfur or phosphorus compounds are burned.

Advantages: Selective for sulfur and phosphorus compounds.

Disadvantages: Less sensitive than other detectors for non-sulfur/phosphorus compounds. 

6. Mass Spectrometer (MS):

Mechanism: Separates ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio, providing detailed structural information about the sample.

Advantages: High selectivity and sensitivity, and can provide structural information.

Disadvantages: More expensive and complex than other detectors. 

7. Photoionization Detector (PID):

Mechanism: Ionizes compounds with a UV lamp, and measures the resulting ions.

Advantages: Sensitive to volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Disadvantages: Less sensitive than other detectors for non-VOCs. 

8. Helium Ionization Detector (HID):

Mechanism: Similar to PID, but uses helium as the carrier gas, and measures the ions produced by helium ionization.

Advantages: High sensitivity and selectivity.

Disadvantages: Less common than other detectors. 

9. Thermionic Detector (TID):

Mechanism: Detects nitrogen and phosphorus compounds by measuring the ions produced during combustion at high temperatures.

Advantages: Selective for nitrogen and phosphorus compounds.

Disadvantages: Less sensitive than other detectors for non-nitrogen/phosphorus compounds. 

10. Atomic Emission Detector (AED):

Mechanism: Measures the light emitted by the sample when it is excited in a plasma.

Advantages: Can detect a wide range of elements.