4 | Introduction
INFICON
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074-594-P1H Micro GC Fusion Operating Man-
ual
The capillary column installed in Micro GC Fusion is resistively heated to achieve
temperature ramping, which quickly increases the column temperature to reduce
analysis time and improve compound separation.
Separation may be optimized by:
• selecting the appropriate column coating type and thickness
• selecting the appropriate column length and diameter
• selecting the appropriate carrier gas type
• adjusting the column head pressure
• adjusting the column temperature programming profile
4.5.3 Detection
The separated sample elutes from the GC column and enters the detection
subsystem, where and electrical signal is generated based on compound type and
concentration.
Micro GC Fusion MEMS based µTCD provides excellent sensitivity. A detection limit
of 1 ppm can be achieved for some compounds when the analysis method is
optimized. The µTCD detects the difference in thermal conductivity of the gas traveling
through the reference side (pure carrier gas) versus the gas traveling through the
analytical side (carrier gas plus the sample gas).
µTCD sensitivity is matrix, carrier gas, and component dependent.
4.5.4 Data System
A data system controls the GC and processes the detector signal output for the
sample being analyzed. GC operation parameters such as the sample injection time,
column pressure and column temperature programming profile are defined in a
method. Once a method is loaded on Micro GC Fusion, a sample run can be initiated.
As compounds elute from the GC column and are detected, a chromatogram is
