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Here are some disadvantages of using H2 as a carrier gas in gas chromatography:
- High cost: Hydrogen is a relatively expensive gas, and its cost can be a significant factor in the overall cost of operating a gas chromatography system.
- Safety concerns: Hydrogen is a flammable gas, and it can be dangerous to work with. It is important to take proper safety precautions when using hydrogen as a carrier gas.
- Leaks: Hydrogen is a small molecule, and it can easily leak from the gas chromatography system. Leaks can lead to a loss of sample and can also be dangerous. It is important to check the gas chromatography system for leaks regularly.
- Incompatibility with certain detectors: Hydrogen is not compatible with all types of detectors. For example, hydrogen cannot be used with flame ionization detectors (FIDs) or electron capture detectors (ECDs).
- High thermal conductivity: Hydrogen has a high thermal conductivity, which can lead to band broadening in gas chromatography. Band broadening can reduce the resolution of the chromatogram and make it difficult to identify and quantify the analytes of interest.