title: A gas chromatographic separation for the h and C stable isotope ratio determination of coal compounds.
abstract: A new, completely automated gas chromatography technique has been developed to separate the different gaseous compounds produced during underground coal gasification for their (13)C/(12)C and D/H isotope ratio measurements. The technique was designed for separation and collection of H(2), CO, CO(2), H(2)O, H(2)S, CH(4), and heavier hydrocarbons. These gaseous compounds are perfectly separated by the gas-phase chromatograph and quantitatively sent to seven combustion and collection lines. H(2), CO, CH(4), and heavier hydrocarbons are quantitatively oxidized to CO(2) and/or H(2)O. The isotopic analyses are performed by the sealed-tube method. The zinc method is used for reduction of both water and H(2)S to hydrogen for D/H analysis. Including all preparation steps, the reproducibility of isotope abundance values, for a quantity higher than or equal to 0.1 mL of individual components in a mixture (5 mL of gases being initially injected in the gas chromatograph), is ±0.1‰ for δ(13)C(PDB) and ±6‰ for δD(SMOW).
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Liège, B6a, B-4000 Liège, Belgium, Institut Scientifique de Service Public, rue du Chéra, 200, B-4000 Liège, Belgium, Laboratoire d'Océanologie, Université de Liège, B6, B-4000 Liège, Belgium, and Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Laboratoire de Géologie Appliquée, Case 123, Tour 26, 5e étage, 4, place Jussieu, F-75252 Paris Cedex 05, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Antenucci
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bouquegneau
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brasseur
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dauby
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Létolle
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jacquemin
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pirard