Standard Practice for Testing Electrolytic Conductivity Detectors (ELCD) Used in Gas Chromatography

1.1 This practice covers testing the performance of an electrolytic conductivity detector (ELCD) used as the detection component of a gas chromatographic system.

1.2 This practice is directly applicable to electrolytic conductivity detectors that perform a chemical reaction on a given sample over a nickel catalyst surface under oxidizing or reducing conditions and employ a scrubber, if needed, to remove interferences, deionized solvent to dissolve the reaction products, and a conductivity cell to measure the electrolytic conductivity of ionized reaction products.

1.3 This practice covers the performance of the detector itself, independently of the chromatographic column, in terms that the analyst can use to predict overall system performance when the detector is coupled to the column and other chromatographic system components.

1.4 For general gas chromatographic procedures, Practice E260 should be followed except where specific changes are recommended herein for the use of an electrolytic conductivity detector. For definitions of gas chromatography and its various terms see Practice E355.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.