Analytical Repeatability, Accuracy,
and Robustness of Instant Connect
GC Modules
Fausto Pigozzo and Paolo Magni, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Milan, Italy
Technical Note
52364
Key Words
TRACE 1300 Series GC, Instant Connect modules, SSL, PTV, FID, ECD,
TCD, NPD
Introduction
GC injectors and detectors are considered fundamental
components of a gas chromatography system. In modern
instrumentation, they consist of the mechanical parts, the
inner body with all tubing for gas connections, pneumatics,
and electronic controls. Selection of an appropriate injector
and detector is based on application requirements. Changing
a system configuration to follow a new analytical need or
application is a complex operation, requiring specialized
service assistance and often resulting in a new system
requirement.
The Thermo Scientific
™
TRACE
™
1300 Series GC is the
first GC instrument on the market that has transcended
this design model. Similar to the long-established
modularity in HPLC, it makes the fundamental instrument
components (the injector and detector) available as
independent sub-systems, which are combined to produce
the desired analytical layout. The level of modularity of
the TRACE 1300 Series GC allows users to rapidly adapt
the instrument configuration to new application and/or
workload requirements without consulting a service
engineer.
This new GC modularity is implemented in the TRACE 1300
Series GC in the form of a full range of injector and
detector modules, which are easy and quick to install and
swap. These modules, termed
Instant Connect
, incorporate
all relevant pneumatic hardware and electronic parts
necessary for making the injector or the detector a fully
self-sufficient sub-unit of the instrument. All electronic
circuits and pneumatic controls are integrated into the
injector body or detector cell, and enclosed into a light,
17 cm x 10 cm x 6 cm, easy-to-handle housing. Each
module stores all specific electronic and pneumatic
calibration information, minimizing module-to-module
performance variation. The modules are plugged into the
top part of the GC, are automatically configured into the
system, and connected to the gas supply lines. Installing a
module takes only two minutes: the time needed to fix
three retaining screws and slide the new injector or
detector module in place.
Laboratories can benefit from the versatility provided by
this “Instant Connect” modularity in several ways:
• Expanding instrument capability at any time, by adding
a new injector or detector module to run a new method
• Upgrading a GC from single to multiple channels to
satisfy rapid incremental business needs and enhance
laboratory productivity
• Replacing contaminated injectors or detectors quickly
with clean ones and running samples in a few minutes,
while conducting full maintenance and cleaning when
the laboratory schedule allows
• Sharing injectors and detectors with different
TRACE 1300 Series GC units in a lab depending
on the application
The list of “Instant Connect” modules includes Split/
Splitless (SSL) and Programmable Temperature Vaporizing
(PTV) injectors both in the standard and backflush
configuration and all standard GC detectors: Flame
Ionization Detector (FID), Electron Capture Detector
(ECD), Thermal Conductivity Detector (TCD), and
Nitrogen Phosphorous Detector (NPD).
