Addressing gas conservation challenges when using helium or hydrogen as GC carrier gas

Significance of the Topic

Helium is the traditional carrier gas of choice in gas chromatography due to its high efficiency and inertness, especially critical for GC–MS applications. However, global shortages and rising costs have driven the need to reduce helium consumption or adopt alternatives such as hydrogen. The Thermo Scientific TRACE 1600 Series GC addresses these challenges by integrating HeSaver–H2Safer technology into a standard iConnect Split/Splitless injector, enabling significant gas savings while preserving analytical performance.

Study Objectives and Overview

This technical note describes the design, operation, and benefits of the HeSaver–H2Safer system. It demonstrates how the technology preserves retention times, repeatability, and recovery for both helium and hydrogen carriers, and quantifies gas savings under typical operating conditions.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The core concept relies on a modified injector body with two separate gas feeds: a low-cost inert pressurizing gas (e.g., nitrogen) to maintain inlet pressure, septum purge, and split flow, and a dedicated carrier gas feed (helium or hydrogen) to the column. A fast‐switching valve sets a minimal carrier flow during injection (0.1 mL/min) and a higher flow during separation (e.g., 9 mL/min). Experiments were conducted on a TRACE 1610 GC equipped with an iConnect SSL injector upgraded to HeSaver–H2Safer, an iConnect FID, an AI 1610 autosampler, and a TraceGOLD 15 m × 0.25 mm, 0.25 µm column.

Main Results and Discussion

Retention times for a C10–C25 alkane mixture remained consistent (<0.01 min shift) between standard and HeSaver/H2Safer modes for both carriers. Precision studies (n=10) showed peak area %RSD below 1% and retention time SD of 0.001 min. Recovery tests for C10–C40 alkanes yielded C40/C20 ratios above 0.9, confirming efficient transfer of high‐boiling analytes. MS baseline monitoring validated rapid gas exchange and uncompromised carrier purity during separation.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• When using helium, HeSaver mode reduces total consumption by up to 72%, extending a 50 L cylinder’s lifetime from approximately 7.5 months to over 2 years under continuous operation.
• For hydrogen, H2Safer mode limits maximum carrier flow and eliminates the need for an oven hydrogen sensor by diluting any leaks with inert pressurizing gas, enhancing safety.
• Both modes preserve existing validated methods without reoptimization and maintain analytical performance equivalence.
• Additional advantages include the ability to maintain column flow during injector maintenance, reduced injector‐to‐column contamination, and elimination of solvent tailing in splitless injections.

Future Trends and Opportunities

HeSaver–H2Safer technology paves the way for broader adoption of carrier gas management in capillary GC. Future developments may include integration with on‐site gas generators, real‐time gas usage monitoring, and AI‐driven method optimization to further reduce resource consumption while ensuring analytical robustness.

Conclusion

The HeSaver–H2Safer upgrade offers a simple, user‐installable solution for TRACE 1600 Series GC systems, delivering substantial carrier gas savings, maintaining validated workflows, and enabling safer hydrogen operation without compromising chromatographic performance.

Instrumentation Used

• Thermo Scientific TRACE 1600 Series GC with iConnect SSL injector (HeSaver–H2Safer upgrade)
• TRACE 1610 GC, iConnect FID detector, AI 1610 liquid autosampler
• TraceGOLD 15 m × 0.25 mm, 0.25 µm capillary column

References

1. The Science of Helium and Why Global Supplies Are Running Low. NPR Short Wave.
2. Thermo Scientific Poster Note 10410: Helium Carrier Gas Conserving Inlet for Gas Chromatography.
3. The Analytical Scientist: The ‘Noble’ Undertaking of Helium Conservation.
4. Upgrade your iConnect SSL with the HeSaver–H2Safer option. Thermo Fisher video guide.
5. HeSaver–H2Safer SSL Injector Body Removal. Thermo Fisher video guide.