Operating the pulsed discharged detector in both the electron-capture and photoionization modes within the same GC analysis

Since the electron-capture detector (ECD) is highly selective, it is imperative to use a more universal ionization detector in conjunction with the ECD in order to detect non-capturing or weakly capturing compounds. Also in an EC study of weakly or moderately strong electron-capturing compounds, it is necessary to identify the EC peak of the compound by identifying the major component with an ionization detector. In this paper we have shown that the pulsed discharge detector can be interchanged between the EC and the helium ionization modes within 4–6 s. The application of this procedure has been illustrated with a mixture of alkane/alkene chlorocompounds. The interchange between EC and argon photoionization modes has also been investigated. The change from EC to argon photoionization also occurs in 4–6 s but the reverse process requires ∼9 s.