RFQ Attachment - Essential Characteristics of GC.docx

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS / OPERATION CONDITIONS

Gas Chromatograph Background:

A gas chromatograph separates volatile gaseous compounds carried by an inert gas such as helium, nitrogen, argon or hydrogen across a solid stationary phase. Different chemicals will pass through the stationary phase at different speeds. The time a sample takes to pass through the stationary phase determines the chemical. Gas chromatography is a powerful standalone application used in many industries, especially environmental testing. Fast run times, robust data acquisition, and analysis software are important features in a gas chromatograph.

Components in a gas chromatograph include a sample injector, flow controller, GC column, column oven, a detector, and a computer for data acquisition and analysis. A combination of electronic sensors and pumps maintain either a constant or variable mobile phase flow rate from 0.001 to 100 mL per minute. GC instruments typically have a maximum temperature of 350C to 450C.

Gas Chromatographs can be equipped with several types of detectors. Different detectors analyze different chemicals. The common environmental samples 18AMDS/TPMF analyzes requires a flame ionization detector (FID) and an electron capture detector (ECD).

Essential Characteristics:

1. Gas Chromatograph

2. Flame ionization detector (FID)

3. Electron Capture detectors (ECD)

4. Split/Splitless injectors

5. Auto sampler

6. Computer and controlling/analyzing software

7. Any required databases

8. Materials (gases) purification

9. Exhaust Kits

10. Installation Operation Conditions:

The requested Gas Chromatograph will be used to analyze environmental and HAZWASTE samples. The equipment will analyze volatile materials such as pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in soil, oil, water, and swipes.

PCBs are known hazards linked to cancer and problems with the nervous, reproductive, and immune systems. PCBs were a common material in industrial applications before being banned in the late 1970s. It is an Air Force requirement (AFI32-7042) to test waste materials before determining disposal methods.

18AMDS/SGPN is the only environmental compliance laboratory in PACAF. 18AMDS/SGPN performs compliance testing for all PACAF bases (to exclude the HI AND AL locations).