Comparison between GC-TCD and GC-FID for the determination of propane in gas mixture

A method comparison between gas chromatography-thermal conductivity detector (GC-TCD) and chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) for the analysis of propane (C3H8) are reported in this study. To achieve the study purpose for producing valid and reliable result, the method comparison process was conducted by investigating several keys of analytical parameter of both GC-TCD and GC-FID method including method sensitivity, precision, accuracy, and method linearity. Investigation of the GC's parameter were conducted by analyzing the C3H8 (% mol/mol) in nitrogen (N2) balance (known as C3H8 certified reference material). The results show that the GC-FID method was found to display more sensitive, precise, and accurate than GC-TCD method for the analysis of C3H8. The sensitivity of the GC-FID are 66 times higher than GC-TCD method. In addition, the GC-FID exhibits a wider linear range (0.161 -2.18%mol/mol) than the GC-TCD method (0.242 – 2.18%mol/mol).