First developed in 1957 by scientistsworking for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization in Melbourne, Australia, the Flame Ionization Detector (FID) is today considered a highly reliable detector. It provides a high level of sensitivity combined with a wide linear range of 6 or 7 orders of magnitude (106 to 107) and limits of detection in the low pictogram. Many in the industry believe its sensitivity is so powerful it is without parallel among Gas Chromatographic (GC) detectors.

An FID’s operation depends on the creation of charged particles produced from compounds by temperature in a flame. Simply put, the number of charged particles present is proportional to the concentration of the material examined. In the absence of organic molecules in the carrier gas, the flame is relatively poor in the number of charged particles present because the combustion of hydrogen with oxygen delivers only a small number of ions or electrons.

Refinery gas analysis is a term used to describe a broad range of hydrocarbon gas and liquid samples that can be analyzed by gas chromatography (GC). These samples typically consist of C1 through C8 hydrocarbons, H2, CO2, H2S, O2, N2, and CO. In some cases, higher boiling point hydrocarbons may be of interest.

In recent years, many laboratories have taken on the responsibilities of instrument maintenance.Sometimes these duties are assumed to reduce costs, other times to provide a more expedient problem resolution than most service contracts offer. As a result, some laboratories have experienced a degree of success in allowing their own in-house experts to perform necessary instrument quality-assurance operations. For laboratories choosing to go this route in implementing their own protocol, we thought it would be helpful to discuss some of the issues that should receive careful attention.