Sciencemadness Discussion Board

How to pack your own GC columns?

Ubya - 2-7-2024 at 15:09


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8PmTW545s8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVmpF7EMI1M
https://youtu.be/vc6VKQSX5j8
https://youtu.be/-cFTE5n1BcE
https://youtu.be/nDdQ6vMInPI


All of these video showed me that it is possible to build a simple but still usable gas chromatograph, so after years just fantasizing, I ordered the necessary materials.
One issue is, how do I pack the column?
I bought a 1m 3mm OD, 2mm ID stainless steel tube/capillary, and I have some 50 micron silica gel I made myself.
I packed quite a few liquid chromatography columns, but never heard anyone packing a GC column.
I asked collegues, searched for old papers, but I really didn't find anything relevant.
I may be overcomplicating things, but since I probably have only one shot at it before I have to painstackingly clean or throw away the colum, I want ti know what to expect.

Should I pack it dry or wet? are there any tricks?

I mean this step sounds easy but I'm expecting it to be a headache.

Any comments are very welcome

EF2000 - 3-7-2024 at 07:10

I hope that this thread on Chromatography Forum will be useful for you: Packing a Packed Column

Ubya - 3-7-2024 at 13:21

Quote: Originally posted by EF2000  
I hope that this thread on Chromatography Forum will be useful for you: Packing a Packed Column


I'll paste here the relevant part in case anyone else is following:
Quote:

by tom jupille » Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:05 pm
Wow, does that bring back memories!
What you need:
1. the column
2. glass wool to plug the ends
3. the packing material
4. a clip-on funnel to put on one end of the column
5. a low vacuum source (e.g., water aspirator)
6. flexible tubing to connect column to vacuum source
6. a vibrator
7. lots and lots of patience.
What to do:
1. Stuff a piece of glass wool in the outlet end of the column, then slip on the flexible tube and connect to the vacuum source.
2. Clip the funnel on the inlet end of the column.
3. Gently pour some packing into the funnel.
4. Turn on vibrator and press against column.
5. Repeat steps 3-4 as necessary to fill the column.
6. Stuff some glass wool in the inlet end of the column. This is a lot easier to do with glass columns than with metal (you can see what's happening). It takes some practice to get it right.


tbh I didn't think about using a vacuum pump, but it it a good tip.

Mateo_swe - 7-7-2024 at 19:00

Interesting, but it require you to have the gas chromatography unit to run the column, right?

It would be very interesting if we had more column chromatography experiments and procedures on this forum.
It´s a tool that are within the hobby experimenters means and can be used to separate some compounds when other means can´t be used (like distillation and various extractions).
Especially flash chromatography and DCVC chromatography that are more easily done and doesn't require much expensive hardware.
Chromatography is a very useful tool, TLC for analysis and regular chromatography to separate compounds on a slightly larger scale.

Ubya - 8-7-2024 at 04:22

Quote: Originally posted by Mateo_swe  
Interesting, but it require you to have the gas chromatography unit to run the column, right?



yeahh about that.

I'm pretty much going the janky way.

I'm sure one can find used units on ebay or other sites, but I'm pretty much building everything from off the shelf parts.

everything is stupidly expensive. It makes sense for a real lab, but for a hobby lab? I'm totally ok with not the greatest resolution, so i'm trying to achieve usable results without actually spending thousands.
Yeah i know that one may be lucky and find a GC unit for a few hundred bucks on ebay if they are lucky, but what about maintenance?

I just wanted to find a TCD detector, just the detector. too expensive, well damn i'll build my own detector from a block of steel, i can at least use the proper filaments from a TCD detector though.
Nope
they are like 150 bucks PER FILAMENT.

So I scrapped all of that and decided to build a GC from steel capillary, normal compression fittings, lightbulbs and simple electronics.
as I said this won't compare to a real GC unit, but it will cost 50 bucks at most