I have one doubt about drying process in sample preparation for GCMS. Which drying method is better ? Nitrogen drying or hot air oven method?
Use the method that makes the most sense for YOUR sample (you specifically asked in context of a sample; " drying process in sample preparation "). If exposure to heat or oxygen (in air) may cause damage or degradation to your sample, then use pure Nitrogen gas to dry.
You do not mention the kind of sample and the kind of analysis to be performed. So, the drying method depends on both of them. Other method of drying is to add Na2SO4 anhydrus.
I agree with William Letter the answer depends on your sample. Issues of thermal degradation, chemical reactivity with atmosphere, evaporation/sample loss, etc., are too many to say one is better than the other. I can say that drying in an oven would likely evaporate water faster, but if your sample is thermally labile ... well... there is a reason why these ovens can be used to sterilize glassware. Good luck.
I also agree with William. You have to look at (a) physical and (b) chemical properties of your sample(s).
Unless it is water you are trying to remove, I would recommend nitrogen. I would also recommend a recovery study using your chosen drying technique before applying to samples that matter.
So, everybody agrees with William!!! :)
Generaly to evaporate a solvent from extract everybody will use N2.
However, be carreful about two aspect.
1. recovery - if you analytes are volatile (even PAHs can be removed by N2 in some %).
2. If the stream is too high, the evaporation causes cooling of the vial and you can get some water vapor condensation into your extract.
best regards,
GB
William Letter is on point with his answer. I also agree... It all depends on what you aim to achieve with your sample
Hi Iyyadurai Mariappan, to me it is not really clear from your question what you want to dry (solid, solutions, glassware or something else?). If you're talking about glassware, nitrogen alone is insufficient. When working with moisture-sensitive compounds, we normally heat the glassware in an oven at ca. 120 °C for 24 h and let them cool to room temperature under nitrogen.
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