SELECTIVE CHEMILUMINESCENCE DETECTION OF SULFUR-CONTAINING-COMPOUNDS COUPLED WITH NITROGEN-PHOSPHORUS DETECTION FOR GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY

A new sulfur and nitrogen-phosphorus detector for gas chromatography i s described. The detector is an integrated thermionic ionization-chemi luminescence device permitting simultaneous detection of sulfur-contai ning and nitrogen- or phosphorus-containing compounds. This new flamel ess detector utilizes a heated rubidium-doped ceramic bead in a thermi onic ionization chamber to produce sulfur monoxide from sulfur compoun ds. The SO is mixed with 0(3) and the resulting chemiluminescence is m onitored with a photomultiplier tube, providing sulfur-selective detec tion. The thermionic ionization detector signal serves as an independe nt second response channel, affording simultaneous selective and sensi tive nitrogen-phosphorus detection. Two chromatograms are obtained, on e in which selectivity is exhibited for nitrogen and phosphorus compou nds, and the other for sulfur compounds present in the sample.