Helium is commonly used as the makeup gas for flame ionization detection in gas chromatography;
however, dramatic increases in cost and limited availability in recent years have led many chromatographers to use nitrogen in its place.

In-house generation of TOC-grade gas readily provides the required volume of sufficiently pure gas for superb sensitivity with a TOC analyzer. The gas is available on demand and is present at a lower pressure than the gas from a cylinder, increasing laboratory safety.

Selecting the most effective source for high-purity gases is a critical issue for laboratory managers. In-house generation of gases offers the following advantages: gases are continually provided; it is not necessary to replace tanks on a periodic basis; less energy is required to supply gas, since tank gas or liquid nitrogen requires distillation of air and transportation of tanks to the final point of use.

In-house generation promises improved safety, increased convenience and reduced gas costs.

Hydrogen, as a carrier gas for GC, can be generated at low pressure on a local basis to provide significant safety and convenience compared to the use of tank gas.