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Hydrocarbons arenon-reactivebut sulfur compounds, especially
hydrogen sulfideandmethylmercaptan, areeasilyadsorbedby
undeactivated surfaces. Therefore, there are two areas of concern
whenperforming this analysiswithpackedormicropacked
columns: one is the inertnessand selectivityof the solid support,
and theother is the inertness of the tubingwalls. Packed and
micropackedcolumns typicallyusemetal tubing for ruggedness
but the surface is very adsorptive for sulfur compounds. So, for
sulfur analysis, Teflon
®
tubing is oftenused.However, this
tubing is permeable andwill expand and contract during
temperaturechanges.
Restekdesigned theRt-XLSulfur
™
column to accomplish the
sensitive separationof hydrocarbons from sulfur compounds.All
components of the columnhavebeen tested for inertness. The
packingmaterial isextensivelydeactivated for theanalysisof low
ppbv-levelsof hydrogen sulfide andmethylmercaptan, and then
isprepared toachieve theproper selectivityand required
resolution (Figure1).Analysis of 50ppbv sulfur compounds
using a1mLgas loop andSievers sulfur chemiluminescence
detector (SCD) shows excellent sensitivity (Figure2).
The interior tubingwallsof theRt-XLSulfur
™
columnare treated
withaSulfinert
™
coating, apassivation techniquedesigned to
deactivatemetal surfaces.This coating is found tobevery inert
for hydrogen sulfideandmethylmercaptan. (Formore informa-
tiononSulfinert
™
coating, request lit. cat.#59203.)Another issue
that is routinelyoverlookedwithpackedcolumns is that their end
plugs are known to adsorb sulfur compounds. So, Restek also
treated the endplugs in theRt-XLSulfur
™
columnwith
Sulfinert
™
passivation. Theextracare takenwith the surfaces in
this column result inamoreaccurateanalysisof sulfur com-
pounds inhydrocarbonprocesses.
Sulfinert
™
andSilcosteel
®
treatmentsadherea thin,
inert layeronto stainless steel andothermetal surfaces.
TheSulfinert
™
coating is the leadingpassivation
technique for the storageand transferof low-level,
organo-sulfur-containingsamples.
ProductListing
Rt-XLSulfur
™
Packed&MicropackedColumns*
OD (in.)
ID (mm)
1-Meter
2-Meter
0.95mm
0.75
19806
19807
1
/
16
1.0
19804
19805
1
/
8
2.0
80484
80485
3
/
16
3.2
80482
80483
* Installation kit must be purchased with column
(no kit needed for
3
/
16
" columns)
RestekTrademarks:
Sulfinert, Silcosteel, Rt-Sulfur, Rt-XLSulfur, and theRestek logo.
InstallationKits for 0.75mm ID columns
Description
cat.#
For valve applications
21062
For split applications
21063
For all HPGC split applications
21064
InstallationKits for 1.0mm ID columns
Description
cat.#
For valve applications
21065
For direct injections
21066
InstallationKits for 2mm ID columns
Description
cat.#
For valve applications
21067
Formore informationonSulfinert
™
coating, call
800-356-1688or814-353-1300, ext. 5, and request
lit. cat.#59203.
