BUCK Scientific Photo Ionization Detector (PID)

• Responds to molecules with carbon double bonds and aromatics
• Sensitive (down to 10 ppb) and non-destructive
• Mandated in several EPA methods
• Extremely long lamp life

The Buck PID uses the industry standard 10.6eV PID lamp in a spring-loaded mount, which allows the lamp to be removed, cleaned and re-installed in seconds, without tools.

Use of the Photo Ionization Detector is mandated in several EPA methods (8021, TO-14, etc.) because of its sensitivity and selectivity. Detection limits for aromatics are in the low picogram (ppb) range. Because it is non-destructive, it is often run in series with other detectors typically the FID/DELCD combination detector for multiple chromatograms from a single injection.

This PID chromatogram shows a separation of a 100ppm BTEX + bromoform
sample using a 0.53mm x 15-meter capillary column and helium carrier gas

The PID is also able to run on air carrier, which can be useful in situations where no gas is available, or for stream monitoring applications where no column is used to separate compounds.

Unlike other PID designs, the lamp on the Buck PID can be easily removed, without tools, for the periodic cleaning of the lamp window to avoid interference from column bleed build-up. Lamps can last years on the Buck PID because only the lamp window is heated, not the entire body of the lamp.

Our PID consists of an insudtry standard UV lamp mounted on a thermostatted, low-volume, flow-through cell. The temperature is adjustable from ambient to 250 degree C. The 10.6 electron volt UV lamp emits energy at a wavelength of 120 nanometers, which is sufficient to ionize most aromatics (benzene, toluene, xylene, etc.) and many other molecules (H2S, hexane, ethanol) whose ionization potential is below 10.6eV. Methanol and water, for example, have ionization potentials greater than 10.6eV and do not respond on the PID.