Wasson Chromatography Corner 4

Importance of the Topic

Laboratory automation and comprehensive gas chromatography analyses are critical for improving throughput and data reliability in analytical chemistry. Automated control systems streamline method development and remote operations, while robust chromatographic techniques address evolving demands such as alternative fuel characterization and quality control.

Objectives and Overview

This newsletter issue presents two core developments: the introduction of the Automator control platform—designed for simple, software-independent automation of lab instrumentation—and an updated refinery gas analyzer capable of simultaneous measurement of hydrocarbons, oxygenates, and permanent gases. Additional content includes chromatographic troubleshooting guidance, a question‐of‐the‐month challenge, and upcoming training events.

Instrumentation Used

• Automator standalone controller with configurable PID loops and digital/analog I/O
• Standard pin-set connections for digital I/O (24 expandable to 55) and analog channels (16×16-bit A/D, 4×12-bit D/A)
• Dual flame ionization detector (FID) with valve timing and pressure control
• Dual thermal conductivity detectors (TCD/TCD) for permanent gas analysis
• Guard column to remove oxygenate contaminants from hydrocarbon streams

Methodology

The Automator features an OS-independent configuration wizard for rapid I/O mapping and a method design wizard for building runtime tables, logical controls, and PID loops. In alternative fuel analysis, valve timing and pressure control route sample flow through a guard column and single FID, enabling separation of hydrocarbons and oxygenates. Permanent gases and light ends are measured in one run under 30 minutes via dual TCDs.

Key Findings and Discussion

• Automator setup reduced hardware configuration and method development from days to minutes and supports remote internet access.
• The modified refinery gas analyzer achieved detection limits of 1 ppm for hydrocarbons and 20 ppm for oxygenates, with a total runtime below 30 minutes.
• Use of a guard column effectively removed oxygenate interference from hydrocarbon traces, as evidenced by comparative chromatograms.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Significantly faster deployment of automated analytical methods without custom software or programming.
• Comprehensive single-injection analysis for alternative fuel streams, combining hydrocarbon profiling, oxygenate quantitation, and permanent gas detection.
• Improved instrument agility for QA/QC laboratories, petrochemical research, and industrial process monitoring.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

• Expansion of web-accessible control platforms to integrate additional detectors and sample preparation modules.
• Development of multi-dimensional GC methods leveraging valve-switching for complex mixture analysis.
• Application of machine learning algorithms to optimize PID parameters and predictive maintenance for automated controllers.
• Broader adoption of compact, networked analytical devices for field or remote environmental monitoring.

Conclusion

The Wasson-ECE Automator and enhanced refinery gas analyzer exemplify advances in laboratory automation and chromatographic versatility. These tools deliver rapid method deployment, simplified configuration, and high-throughput analysis of complex fuel mixtures, supporting both research and industrial quality control needs.