The gas used in the spectrometer
Spectrometers use specific gases depending on the type: carrier gases like helium or nitrogen in mass spectrometry, and excitation gases such as argon, xenon, hydrogen, or deuterium in optical spectrometry.
Carrier Gases in Mass Spectrometry
In gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), a carrier gas transports the vaporized sample through the column to the mass spectrometer. Common carrier gases include helium, nitrogen, and sometimes hydrogen, chosen for their inertness and ability to efficiently move the sample without reacting with it. The carrier gas ensures that compounds are separated based on their interaction with the stationary phase and then delivered to the ion source for detection .
Excitation Gases in Optical Spectrometry
For optical spectrometers, particularly those using electrode lamps, gases are used to produce light at specific wavelengths. Examples include:
- Argon and xenon: Emit radiation in the visible and ultraviolet ranges.
- Hydrogen and deuterium: Commonly used in UV spectrometry for continuous UV light sources.
- Tungsten lamps: Often used for visible light, sometimes in combination with gas-filled lamps for line emission . These gases are excited by an electrical current, causing the gas atoms to emit light at characteristic wavelengths, which is then analyzed by the spectrometer.
Role of Gases
- In mass spectrometry, the gas acts as a mobile phase to transport and separate analytes.
- In optical spectrometry, the gas serves as a light-emitting medium, providing discrete or continuous spectral lines for analysis.
- In infrared spectroscopy, gases are generally not used as the sample itself may be gaseous, but the spectrometer measures absorption of IR light by the molecules .
Summary
The choice of gas depends on the spectrometer type and the measurement goal:
- GC-MS: Helium, nitrogen, or hydrogen as carrier gases.
- UV-Vis and other optical spectrometers: Argon, xenon, hydrogen, or deuterium as excitation gases.
- IR spectroscopy: Typically measures the sample directly; inert gases may be used to purge the optical path. These gases are selected for their inertness, spectral properties, and ability to facilitate accurate measurement without interfering with the sample.
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