Inficon 3000 Micro GC, Operating Manual

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3000 Micro GC Operating Manual
9.2.1.1.2 Baseline Wander and Drift
Baseline wander or drift is to be expected when a flow or temperature setting is
changed. With sufficient time, the problem should subside. The following cases
assume that sufficient stabilization time has elapsed.
Baseline is erratic; moves up and down (wander)
 Potential column leak; check column connections
 Change the sample conditioner filter
 If there is a leak at the detector end of the column, the retention times will be
stable from run to run, but sensitivity will be reduced
 If there is a leak at the inlet end, there will be reduced flow (lower linear velocity)
through the column, but there will be an increase in retention time and the
sensitivity will be reduced
Baseline moves steadily (drift) upscale or downscale during the run
This problem can be minimized by:
 Conditioning the column
 Operating at a lower temperature, but this prolongs the analysis
 Substituting a chromatographically equivalent module
Wander and drift are often accompanied by noise. See section 9.2.1.1.3 .