Four detectors have been employed in this study to assist in gas chrom
atography peak identification along with the relative retention time.
These four detectors are based upon different principles and their res
ponses appear to be independent. The detectors are the classical flame
ionization detector and three photoionization detectors using the pho
ton emission from He, Ar, and Kr. Relative detector responses, includi
ng an internal standard, have been used to eliminate concentration ter
ms and account for long-term drifts in the electronic equipment. A tot
al of 127 compounds, containing numerous functional groups, varying st
ructures, and degrees of unsaturation, were included in the study. The
relative detector responses, in conjunction with the relative retenti
on time, gave a set of four values that were unique to each of the 127
compounds. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.