Ionization detectors
AssigneeThe Radiochemical Centre Limited
InventorsEdgar Adolf Lorch, David John Dwight
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Abstract
A novel form of ionization detector, particularly one operating in the electron capture mode, is described. The detector includes iron-55 as a source of electrons to cause ionization. The detector may be operated in direct current, pulse or frequency modulated modes.
Claims5
An ionisation detector comprising a pair of electrodes defining between them a region for the passage of gas to be analysed and a source of iron-55 emitting electrons into the said region and thereby causing ionisation of gas in the said region.
A method of analysing the effluent from a gas chromatography apparatus, which method comprises passing the effluent gas through the ionisation cell of an electron capture detector having entry and exit ports for gas and a pair of electrodes defining between them a region for the passage of gas to be analysed, the pair of electrodes being positioned so that gas flowing through the cell passes through the region between them, and a source of iron-55 emitting electrons into the said region and thereby causing ionisation of gas in the said region,
- and operating the detector so as to cause an ion current of from 0.05 to 10 nanoamps to flow between the electrodes in the cell, and measuring the ion current.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.