Hydrocarbon Breakthrough Volumes for Adsorbent Resins

The above chart demonstrates the useful range of the adsorbent resins for a range of hydrocarbons via purge and trap thermal desorption techniques. The numbers at the top of the chart indicate the number of carbons in straight chain hydrocarbon (i.e. methane = 1, decane = 10). The numbers at the bottom of the chart indicate the boiling point range of the straight chain hydrocarbon. The bars in the chart indicate the useful range of hydrocarbons that can be analyzed with the resin. The different colored bars indicate the desorption temperature required to desorb the hydrocarbon off the particular resin. From this chart you can easily select the best resin for an application. For example Carbosieve SIII is excellent for straight chain hydrocarbons ethane through pentane. Tenax TA can be used for a wide range of hydrocarbons from pentane through C24 hydrocarbons, and glass beads is good for hydrocarbons with chain lengths greater than 15. Using these three resins in a three layered trap, one could utilize this trap for the analysis of hydrocarbons from ethane through C30.

Hydrocarbon Breakthrough Volumes for Adsorbent Resins

Use of Breakthrough Volume Data

In the following chart, the Breakthrough Volume data is expressed in Liters per gram of resin. This is the volume of gas required to elute the organic compound off 1.0 gram of resin at the indicated temperature. The Blue highlighted areas indicate that the Breakthrough Volume is greater than 10 liters per gram of resin which is an acceptable value for the trapping of the organic compound at that temperature. The Red highlighted areas indicate that the Breakthrough Volume is less than 0.010 Liters per gram of resin or less than 10 ml/gram of resin. This is a good temperature to assure complete desorption of the organic compound off the adsorbent resin during the thermal desorption process.

Tenax TA with Hydrocarbons

Tenax GR with Hydrocarbons

Carbosieve SIII with Hydrocarbons

Carbotrap with Hydrocarbons

Carbotrap C with Hydrocarbons

Glass Beads with Hydrocarbons