Quantitative analysis of hydrogen isotopes gas mixtures by cryogenic chromatography using low loading MOFs as stationary phase

Abstract Cryogenic gas chromatography is one of the most extensively used methods for quantitative analysis of hydrogen isotopes gas mixtures. However, limitations such as long retention time or low separation resolution exist in the current chromatographic analysis for hydrogen isotope. Due to chemical affinity quantum sieving effect, MOFs materials with open metal sites show good separation performance for hydrogen isotopes. Herein, low loading composites Ni2Cl2BBTA@γ-Al2O3 was prepared by hydrothermal synthesis, which has been subsequently employed as a stationary phase for gas chromatographic separations of ternary hydrogen isotope gas mixtures (H2-HD-D2). Excellent separation resolution at liquid nitrogen temperature was realized, and baseline separation (R = 1.57) of H2/HD can be obtained within 11 min. Finally, quantitative analysis of hydrogen isotopes gas mixtures with the good accuracy and repeatability (RSD around 1%) was achieved. Compared with the traditional gas chromatography stationary phase, a shorter packed column of low loading MOFs modified composite showed high efficiency quantitative analysis for hydrogen isotopes gas mixtures.