Gas Chromatographic Analysis of Oxygen and Argon at Room Temperature

Abstract

A simple and accurate method for the analysis of oxygen and argon at room temperature with a dual-column gas chromatographic system is described. The system consists of a 5A molecular sieve (MS 5A) column and a combination column (MS 5A and palladium alumina catalyst). The MS 5A column is used to separate the air sample into two main peaks at room temperature: an argon and oxygen combined peak and a nitrogen peak. The combination column is used to separate the argon and oxygen peaks; the oxygen is eliminated due to the catalytic reaction with hydrogen (hydrogen is used as the carrier gas), so only the argon peak is eluted. The concentrations of oxygen and argon can be calculated by comparing the output of both columns.