Ultrafast gas chromatographic separation of organophosphor and organosulfur compounds utilizing a microcountercurrent flame photometric detector.

A microcountercurrent flame photometric detector (μcc-FPD) was adapted and optimized for ultrafast gas chromatographic (GC) separation and detection of organophosphor (OP) and organosulfur (OS) compounds on short chromatographic columns. Air and hydrogen are introduced to the μcc-FPD from opposite directions, creating a hydrogen-rich flame. In this μcc-FPD, combustion takes place between the burner tips without touching them. The separation between the tips and the flame reduces heat loss from the flame to the surrounding environment, resulting in low hydrogen consumption and a compact flame. The μcc-FPD is capable of detecting very narrow (13 ms) chromatographic peaks. An ultrafast GC separation of a group of six OP and OS compounds is achieved within less than 5 s using fast temperature programming of a 0.5-m-long microbore column. Very fast separations are also demonstrated on a 1-m-long microfabricated column consisting of 150-μm-wide, 240-μm-deep channels, etched in a 1.9-cm square silicon chip, cove...