Flame photometric detector

The flame photometric detector (FPD) uses a hydrogen-rich flame to decompose organic matter containing sulfur and phosphorus atoms to form excited molecules. When they return to the ground state, they emit light of a certain wavelength. The intensity of this light is proportional to the weight of the component being detected. Therefore, it is a detection method based on the relationship between matter and light, and belongs to the photometric method. Because it emits light after the molecule is excited, it is a molecular emission detector in the photometric method.

In 1966, Brody and Chancy first proposed gas chromatography FPD, which was called universal FPD. It has disadvantages such as easy fire extinguishing. Later, improvements were made in the flow path of gas. These are all single flame FPD (single flame photometric detector, referred to as SFPD). In order to overcome the shortcomings of SFPD, dual-flame photometric detector (dual-flame photometric detector; referred to as DFPD) appeared. In recent years, pulsed-flame photometric detector (pulsed-flame photometric detector; PFPD) has appeared, which has greatly improved the sensitivity and selectivity compared with SFPD and DFPD, and also expanded the range of detection elements.

FPD is a highly sensitive and selective detector. Its main feature is its nonlinear response to sulfur. It is one of the six most commonly used gas chromatography detectors and is mainly used for trace detection of sulfur and phosphorus compounds, especially sulfides. In recent years, it has also been used for trace detection of organometallic compounds or other heteroatom compounds.