An Evaluation of a Katharometer Detector for the Qualitative Analysis of Medical Gases

Abstract

Summary The performance of the Shandon UK3 gas chromatograph (incorporating a katharometer detector) was examined critically under various experimental conditions such as column flow rate, temperature changes and detector current. The work was done to establish optimum conditions for the identification of medical gases, i.e. compressed air, oxygen, nitrogen, nitrous oxide and Entonox. Certain light hydrocarbons were also studied with a view to finding suitable internal markers. Porapak Q (PQ) and a molecular sieve (MS) were used as stationary phases.