ASTM D6387 Activated Carbon Analysis by Capillary Gas Chromatography
ASTM D6387 undergoes capillary gas chromatography technique to find individual chemical compounds within the sample. It uses internal standard and area percent test methods that give absolute and relative values.
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- Overview
- Scope, Applications, and Benefits
- Test Process
- Specifications
- Instrumentation
- Results and Deliverables
Overview
ASTM D6387 is a standard method to analyze the composition and chemical makeup of turpentine and related terpene products. Capillary Gas Chromatography is the process used for the determination of chemical composition of turpentine and its associated products.
This method helps identify compounds such as a-pinene, B-pinene, dipentene, terpene alcohols, and other terpenes in turpentine and related terpene products, serving as a vital quality-control check in the petrochemical industry. Overall, this test method is an essential tool that provides superior repeatability but average reproducibility.
Scope, Applications, and Benefits
Scope
The ASTM D6387 standard test method describes the determination of the components and their concentrations in a mixture using a capillary chromatography instrument fitted with a suitable detector, such as a flame ionization detector.
It is appropriate for a broad range of organics, including petroleum products, chemical intermediates, polymer additives, and solvents. It is applicable only when compositional, qualitative, or semi-quantitative data are required for quality assurance, specifications, and product formulations.
Applications
- Proper quality control in the distillation and refining of terpene-based chemicals.
- Analyzing contaminants in water, air, and soil.
- Research and development for separating and differentiating volatile organic compounds.
- Knowing about polymer additives and intermediates.
Benefits
- Improved speed and efficiency, leading to shorter run times and better separation.
- Precise quantification provides the data needed to compute component concentration.
- High resolution and separation enable detailed analysis of complex mixtures.
- Superior sensitivity for trace analysis and identification of tiny components.
Testing Process
Sample details
Prepare the liquid sample by dilution with a suitable solvent as specified in the method.
1Instrument Setup
Configure the capillary gas chromatograph with the specified column, carrier gas, detector, and temperature program.
2Sample Injection & Separation
Inject the prepared sample into the GC system. Components are separated within the capillary column based on their boiling points and polarity.
3Detection & Data Analysis
Detect eluted components using the appropriate detector..
4Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Analytical Technique | Capillary Gas Chromatography |
| Column Type | Fused silica capillary column |
| Column Length | Typically 30 m (as specified) |
| Detector | Flame Ionization Detector (FID) |
| Calibration Method | External or internal standard calibration |
| Data Output | Chromatograms with retention time and peak area |
Instrumentation Used
- Fused silica capillary column (method-specified stationary phase)
- Flame Ionization Detector (FID)
- Split/splitless injector
- Carrier gas supply system (Helium or Nitrogen)
- Gas flow and pressure control modules
- Programmable column oven
- Autosampler (manual or automatic)
Results and Deliverables
- Determination of the composition of complex organic compounds.
- Analysis of material quality, product integrity, and performance.
- Contaminant selection for wide industry use.
Frequently Asked Questions
The method applies to petroleum products, chemical intermediates, solvents, polymer additives, and other organic liquids.
A gas chromatograph with a fused silica capillary column and a suitable detector, typically a flame ionization detector (FID), is used.
Samples may require dilution, filtration, or conditioning to ensure proper injection and accurate separation in the GC column.
Compounds are identified by their retention times compared to standard reference materials under the same chromatographic conditions.
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