Gas chromatography Software

TRACE GC System Components 1- Pneumatic Compartment The pneumatic compartment contains the pneumatic gas control circuits. The circuits can be completely electronic (digital pneumatics), completely analog, or a combination of analog and digital components (mixed pneumatics). 2- Analytical Unit The analytical unit consists of two sub compartments: the column oven the injector and detector compartment

Cont. 3- Electronic Compartment The electronic compartment consists of two sub compartments: the high-voltage compartment the motherboard for the detector control cards 4- Display and Keypad The display and the keypad make up the TRACE GC user interface.

Sentinel Key The Sentinel Key is delivered with Chrom-Card software and it should be connected to the parallel port of your computer as follows: Remove the printer cable from the PC parallel port LPT1. Connect the Sentinel Key instead the printer cable to the PC parallel port LPT1. Re-connect the printer cable on the other end of the Sentinel Key.

Start Chrom-Card click twice on the icon of the relevant instrument.

Chrom-card main menu

New Method Parameters Method Title Detection Parameters Integration Parameters. Calculation Parameters Report Parameters Report Stripchart Operator ID Analytical Information

2. Detection Parameters Start Acquisition when GC starts The start of acquisition is achieved by hardware contact between the instrument and PC. The automatic start will have effect only if this option has been enabled. Baseline compensation Through this function you can select the blank chromatogram to be subtracted to all chromatogram analyses.

3. Integration Parameters This dialog box contains all parameters used for the integration algorithm. The integration algorithm is very simple and similar to the one used in a stand alone integrator.

4. Calculation Parameters This section is the analytical method part containing all the parameters for peak calculation. Calculation This box defines the calculation method used to convert peak areas into concentrations. Calibration

5. Report Parameters The Report Format box permits the selection of various Report types providing various options

6. Report Stripchart It permits to select and to set the Stripchart options to be included in the report printout.

Standard Report A standard Report can be made consisting of all integrated peak information. The detailed report consists of: Component names Calculated concentrations or area % Retention times Areas Baseline correction Response factors Relative retention time if working with relative retention time identification The report column BC identifies the baseline correction of the peak. The available codes are: RS = Resolved FU = Fused TL = Tailing CR = Carried MI = Manually integrated ^^ = Off-Scale peak

7. Operator ID / 8. Analytical Information

TRACE GC Parameters The TRACE GC (oven, carrier, injectors and detectors) should be set according to your GC configuration.

Oven Parameters ( Trace ) The Oven tab provides you full control of the GC oven including sub ambient options and post run programs. Controls are for running complex temperature programs (seven levels of ramps) and controlling post run events. The Oven tab displays several control groups: Graph, Ramps, Post Run Conditions, Acquisition Time, and Oven. The graph displays a graphical representation of the oven temperature program including any post run events. An isothermal run just gives a flat line.

Analytical Method An analytical method describes the treatment a sample receives during analysis. You can set parameters for: temperatures, including seven programmed changes (ramps) Pressures flow rates inlet types detector types and parameters signal changes autosampler parameters timed events before, during, and after the run

Injector Parameters Injectors parameters page control the Split/ Splitless injector. Depending on your instrument configuration the window displays the appropriate fields for that inlet. For example, if you selected a right SSL inlet this tab displays.

Carrier Parameters The carrier gas flows through the GC column at a specific rate, measured either as a linear velocity (cm/sec) or as a flow rate (cc/min). Common carrier gases are Helium, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen. Hydrogen offers the best chromatographic properties (optimum resolution at the highest flow rates). However, because Hydrogen is flammable, Helium is often used as an alternative for a carrier gas.

Detector Parameters Detectors monitor the composition of the column effluent. This is accomplished by measuring some physical or chemical property of the eluted compounds. FID, ECD, NPD,FPD, PID, TCD and mass are typical detectors for a GC. The detector types that show up in the TRACE instrument setup window are determined by your selections in the Instrument configuration window.

Detection parameters The detection parameters module is the analytical method section that contains all the parameters for data acquisition.

Auto sampler Parameters

Internal Standard Parameters

Components Table The Component table is the analytical method section that contains all the parameters for the peak identification. The Component table offers a number of tools to enter the retention times and identification windows through the chromatogram .

Fill Components Table fill the Component table in an automatic way, using the retention time of the peaks calculated from the chromatogram currently displayed.

Sample table The Sample Table is the analytical method section that contains all the information about the sequence of samples to be acquired and processed.

Concentration table First The user should address the standard component of interest by clicking the mouse on the concentration table grid. Second The cursor will automatically address the input box, ready to accept the new value, once the new value has been entered and confirmed by pressing the (17(5 key, the system updates the concentration grid. Alternatively You can address the box by a double click, in this case the system permits to edit the previous content of the box

Fill Samples Table Fill the sample table in an automatic way, the user supplies common information for a batch of samples and the system will automatically fill the lines with the sample name and the filename made by a root name and an increasing index.

Sample Type Sample amount SA is the amount of sample material measured. This column is only available for Unk samples. Internal Standard IS is the amount of internal standard added to the analysis samples. Units of measurement must be the same as those used in measuring the sample amount. Dilution Factor The XF is a scaling factor (multiplier) which may be used as a conversion factor. This column is only available for Unk samples

Sample being Acquired The system permits to view the chromatogram being acquired with the function View Sample Being Acquired.

View Calibration Curve According to the calculation method, the system shows the calibration points with the peak area and the concentration.

View Chromatogram View Chromatogram is a tool for Chrom-Card users to view or modify the peak integration.

Recalculation The Recalculation tag permits to recalculate sample batches. Chrom-Card 32 bit will perform the recalculation of the samples first-last (included) using the selected option. Sample Sequence You should supply the first-last sample to be reprocessed. Refer to Recalculate sample(s) from Sample Sequence Box.