Objective:

To address the challenges posed by the helium shortage in gas chromatography (GC) and explore alternative carrier gases.

Approach:

• Background on Helium Usage: Helium has been the primary carrier gas for GC applications since the 1950s due to its inert nature.
• Current Challenges: Laboratories face supply issues and price increases due to refinery failures and rising demand from industrialized nations.
• Alternative Carrier Gases: Nitrogen and hydrogen can be used as substitutes for helium, with hydrogen showing performance advantages at higher velocities.
• Industry Response: GC manufacturers are adapting to the helium shortage by developing systems compatible with hydrogen and providing resources for conversion.
• Safety and Regulatory Concerns: Concerns about hydrogen's reactivity and safety are noted, but many labs have successfully used hydrogen for GC-FID.

Key Findings:

• Helium is becoming increasingly difficult to source and more expensive.
• Hydrogen is a cost-effective and efficient alternative to helium for many GC applications.
• Regulatory limitations prevent the use of hydrogen in certain EPA methods.

Interpretation:

Limitations:

• Hydrogen cannot be used in certain EPA methods until approved.
• Concerns about hydrogen's explosive nature and reactivity with certain analytes persist.

Conclusion:

The transition to hydrogen as a carrier gas may alleviate some of the challenges posed by the helium shortage, though regulatory hurdles remain.

Sources:

• Mineral Commodity Summaries 2013
• Thermo Scientific Application Brief