AMA - Model GC 5000 Series -Gas Chromatography for Air Quality Monitoring

Various configurations of the GC 5000 series are available to cover a wide range of applications, such as monitoring of BTEX acc. European Directive 2008/50/EC, monitoring of ozone precursors acc. to the PAMS target list of VOC’s published by the U.S. EPA, monitoring of sulfur organic compounds, solvents, chlorinated hydrocarbons and other organic pollutants and air toxics. The GC 5000 series of analyzers is type approved and QAL1 certified by German TÜV acc. EN 14662- 3 and EN 15267 for monitoring of benzene in ambient air. This proofs the high quality standard of the instruments and its suitability for air quality and industrial site monitoring applications.

The GC 5000 series features either single stage or dual-stage sample pre-concentration of organic compounds. Fully automated air sampling is performed using an integrated, low-maintenance membrane pump. Both - sampling flow rate and sampling volume - will be measured and controlled precisely using a digital mass flow controller and is not affected by any fluctuations in ambient pressure and temperature.

The single-stage sample enrichment module allows for quantitative pre-concentration of volatile organic compounds in the range from C4 to C12. Subsequent sample introduction is performed by means of thermal desorption technique. Digital PID temperature control, active peltier-cooling and heating of the adsorbent tube using high, but precisely controlled short circuit currents, allow for well controlled temperatures during sampling and sample introduction.

Optionally the GC 5000 series features unique dual-stage sample enrichment technology for pre-concentration of very low boiling organic compounds, such as ethane, ethylene and acetylene. Breakthrough of these extremely volatile compounds will be avoided even at sampling temperatures well above 0°C due to a high capacity pre-concentration tube. This allows to retaining low boiling organic compounds quantitatively and avoids freezing of the flow path while atmospheric humidity will be high. Prior to sample introduction, the organic compounds will be focused on a second stage providing for distinct and well separated peaks in the chroma tog ram.

AMA Instruments GmbH has more than 20 years of experience in developing and manufacturing of GC detectors. Two types of detectors are available for the GC 5000 series, a Flame Ionization Detector (FID) and a Photo Ionization Detector (PID). Both detectors have especially been designed for air quality monitoring applications in the field and are characterized by their ruggedness. superior long-term stability, excellent reproducibility and unmatched detection sensitivity.

Many PID`s having mainly been developed for laboratory type of gas chromatographs and using DC operated high voltage UV lamps are known for their significant drift over longer periods of time. Therefore these common PID`s are not ideally suited for field operation. In contrast to this, the PID available for the GC 5000 series is using a RF excited UV lamp providing excellent long-term stability. Also detection sensitivity of this type of detector is superior and allows for monitoring of benzene at concentration levels of 10 ppt (MDL) or even lower.

System control software with powerful PEAK.log`" Chromatography Data System
The system control software for the GC 5000 series allows to controlling complete monitoring systems combining just one or even more GC systems with a dilution calibrator and additional gas generators. All data, settings, chromatograms and results will be stored in a SQL database and can easily be retrieved. The powerful PEAK.log™ Chromatography Data System is fully integrated into the system control software and offers unique features, such as peak shift compensation.