Gas Chromatography FT-IR Spectroscopy (GC/FT-IR)
The GC - FT-IR accessory is intended as a coupling unit between a gaschromatograph (GC, with capilary or packed columns) and a Bruker FT-IR spectrometer. It consists of a heatable lightpipe of small volume, a temperature controller and the optical adaptation with a high sensitivity Hg-Cd-Te (MCT) detector. Almost all popular gas chromatographs can be used with this interface.
The GC-IR accessory is mounted at the right side of the FT-IR spectrometer. A collimated beam of infrared radiation passes from the FT-IR optics to the GC-IR accessory. The radiation is focussed into the lightpipe and passes through the lightpipe together with the effluent from the GC column. The IR-beam leaving the lightpipe is imaged onto the element of the Hg-Cd-Te (MCT) detector, the digitized signal is fed back to the electronics of the FT-IR system. Connection between the GC-IR accessory and the gas chromatograph consists of a heated transfer line which reaches through a cutout into the oven of the GC. The input port is used for the transfer of the effluent from the GC to the GC-IR accessory. A fused silica GC-column or a fused silica transfer line transfers the effluent directly to the entrance of the lightpipe via the stainless steel tubing.
