Thermo Scientific AI 1310 User Manual page 97

Nano-Volumes Injections in TRACE GC Ultra/FOCUS GC SSL Inlets
Thermo Scientific
Injections of sample volumes below 0.1-0.2 μL in SSL inlets is very attractive when the
dilution with a solvent is not desired and/or the main component easily overloads the capillary
column even at high split ratios. Examples of such applications are analyses of essential oils or
petroleum fractions.
The reduction of the injection volume to the sub microliter range using a standard sampler,
like the AI 1310/AS 1310 unit, is achievable by exploiting the low capacity syringe (0.5 μL)
and the tapered liner. High accuracy and repeatability injecting nano-volumes are achievable
by exploiting the "Cold Needle" injection mode.
For injection volumes higher than 0.2-0.3 μL use a 5 (or 10) μL syringe and a standard split
or splitless liner (possibly packed with glass wool whenever you inject in "Cold Needle"
mode). In summary, use the following guideline to choose the best syringe capacity for your
injections with the AI 1310/AS 1310 sampler. See
Table 12. Syringe Guideline for AI 1310/AS 1310 Autosampler
Injection Volume Range
0.5 – 5.0 μL
0.2 – 1.0 μL
0.01 – 0.3 μL
1
See your TRACE GC Ultra and FOCUS GC Spare Part Catalog for items part number.
 To create a nano-volumes method
1. Enter the AI/AS 1310 method page provided by your Data System.
2. Adjust all the autosampler parameters.
3. Save the method.
Remarks on the Nano-Volume Method:
• The desired volume must be set in microliter units (1 μL = 10
• The Data System will let you choose any volume between 0.010 μL (10 nL) and
0.5 μL in steps of 0.010 μL.
• A default air volume of 0.3 μL is automatically added to the sampler volume in order
to optimize the syringe plunger movements. This value can not be edited by the user.
• The best repeatability and recovery results are obtained injecting in fast "Cold Needle"
mode (i.e. "minimum" injection depth with no Pre and Post Inject Delay/Pre and
Post Injection Dwell Time).
• Select Draw Speed to Slow (Chromeleon CDS only).
• Always set the Viscous parameter to Yes when using the 0.5 μL syringe (Xcalibur,
Chrom-Card, and ChromQuest CDS only).
Table 12
1
Suggested Syringe AI 1310/AS 1310 Injection Parameters
10 μL
Standard – general purpose
5 μL
---
0.5 μL
Plunger-in-needle
AI 1310/AS 1310 Sampling System - User Guide
4
AI 1310/AS 1310 Control
Guidelines for Programming with Different Injectors
for details.
3
nL).
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