In my previous two blogs (Part I and Part II), I mentioned the use of Restek’s GC Accelerator Oven Insert Kit (cat. #23849) for making your methods even faster. The GC Accelerator kit was originally released with the intent of being used with an Agilent GC-MS system; however, this same kit can also be used for speeding up dual column / detector analyses, such as EPA 8081. In this blog, I am going to show you how to install the GC Accelerator kit for use with dual columns.
Step 1: Obtain columns to be used in a tied format, without cages. This is important, as it will allow for both columns to fit in the oven with the GC Accelerator kit installed. When ordering columns, use the suffix “-051” after the column catalog number to request a specific column without a cage.
Step 2: Install the guard column in the back inlet and connect the two tied analytical columns to the guard using a connector, such as a “Y” press-tight. Analytical columns can be installed in front and back detectors. Ensure all columns are in the back position of the oven (Figure 1). Be sure to pressurize and leak check before proceeding with installation of the GC Accelerator kit.
Figure 1: Guard column installed in back inlet, connected to two analytical columns using “Y” press-tight. Analytical columns installed into front and back detectors.
Step 3: Install the first two blocks of the GC Accelerator kit as shown in Figure 2. The column that is installed in the front detector should come through the opening to the right of the small block on top (Figure 3).
Figure 2: Blocks installed in front of columns.
Figure 3: Analytical column comes through the opening to the right of the small block to go into front detector.
Step 4: Lastly, install the insert of the GC Accelerator kit (Figure 4). This piece will be pushed against the front inlet and front detector. Close the oven door. This should not take excessive force if GC Accelerator plate is installed correctly.
Figure 4: GC Accelerator insert installed.
That’s all there is to it! In my final blog I will show you a method for accelerating run times for 8081 on the CLPesticides and CLPesticides2 columns, both in 30m x 0.32mm ID and 30m x 0.25mm ID formats.
Links to other blogs in this series:
Dear Linx,
Do the accelerator kit lead to longer GC oven cooling times?
Kind regards –
Lars Kürstein, Copenhagen
Dear Lars,
The cooling times with the GC Accelerator are similar to the the cooling times without the GC Accelerator. Some customers have found that under their run conditions that the cooling times are faster with the GC Accelerator. Overall the cycle times are always faster.
Regards
Mark
Dear Mark & Linx,
Thank you for your response. We have a couple of extended SimDist configurations with dual metal capillary columns. The oven are cooled using cryo N2 down to -20C and heated up to 375C. The cooling times are pretty long using a lot of cryo N2, you can imagine.
We are wondering if oven cooling times can be shortened using the GC Accelerator Kit. The kit will of course reduce the open space in the column oven. But the kit also represents major amount of mass to be cooled using cryo N2… Do you think we can reduce cooling times and the amount of cryo N2 to be used when cooling the oven?
Best regards –
Lars Kürstein, Copenhagen
Hi Lars,
I apologize for the late reply, I missed this comment. Unfortunately, I do not have a definitive answer, as I don’t have that particular set-up to test it. My thoughts are that it is possible there could be an advantage in cryo cooling slightly faster with the insert, but as you point out the mass of the kit may counteract the effectiveness.
Thanks,
Linx