Flame Ionisation Detector (FID)

Use of a Flame Ionisation Detector (FID) is a very common analytical technique used in the petrochemical, pharmaceutical and natural gas sectors to analyse carbon-based organic compounds.

A FID typically uses a hydrogen/air flame into which the sample is passed to oxidise organic molecules and produces electrically charged particles (ions). The ions are collected and produce an electrical signal that is then measured. FID is often used in conjunction with a GC instrument.

As is common with other GC techniques, the gases used require low water and oxygen impurities, as these can negatively interact with the stationary phase. These cause significant problems including high baseline noise and column bleed in the output gas chromatogram, resulting in reduced analyser sensitivity and decreased column lifespan. Additionally an FID is extremely sensitive to hydrocarbon impurities in the hydrogen and air supply for the flame.

Air Products range of Experis® ultra-high-purity gases and gas mixtures, and our unique BIP® cylinder technology have been specifically designed to improve both the accuracy of analysis and the lifespan of core GC-FID components by minimising the critical impurities in the gases supplied