Simultaneous Multiwavelength Detection System for Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

A simultaneous multi-wavelength detection system for liquid chromatography is described. The system consists of a rapid scan spectrometer with a UV silicon vidicon target as radiant energy detector, a minicomputer, a programming language, and the requisite chromatographic hardware. Algorithms required for a real-time data processing capability are described. Multi-wavelength data retained during a chromatographic separation are summarized as an absorbance-wavelength-time surface. The ability to identify components unresolved by the chromatographic column is demonstrated. Solutes unresolved by the column can be quantitated with a precision and accuracy equal to that observed for solutes resolved by the column. The use of this detection system to qualitatively assess compositional changes in a coal derived oil as a function of process, as well as the limitations of the system and required improvements are discussed.