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Analytical / Chromatography > Air Monitoring > Carbon Adsorbents > Graphitized Carbon Black (GCB)
Carbon Adsorbents

Graphitized Carbon Black (GCB)

Carbon Adsorbents main pageGraphitized carbon black (GCB) materials generally are non-porous. Consequently, surface interactions depend solely on dispersion (London) forces. GCBs exhibit hydrophobic surface characteristics, meaning that small, polar molecules such as water are not adsorbed. Therefore, analyte displacement by water is significantly reduced, allowing them to be effectively used to trap organic compounds despite high humidity.

All our GCB materials are prepared at temperatures >2500 °C, resulting in highly pure products that ensure effective release/desorption of analytes of interest. Trapped compounds can be desorbed either by solvent desorption or thermal desorption techniques, at virtually 100% desorption efficiency. Because these adsorbents offer excellent thermal stability, they exhibit negligible bleed.

We offer two groups of GCB adsorbents: the Carbotrap™ and Carbopack™ Materials and the Small Particle Size GCB Materials .
Carbotrap™ and Carbopack™ Materials back to top

The Carbotrap and Carbopack GCB product lines are very similar, differing only in whether the particle size is larger or smaller than 40 mesh. Our GCB materials 40 mesh and larger (e.g. 20/40) belong in the Carbotrap product line, whereas our GCB materials 40 mesh and smaller (e.g. 40/60, 60/80, 80/100, etc.) belong in the Carbopack product line. The larger 20/40 Carbotrap materials are typically used in 4 mm and larger internal diameter (I.D.) air monitoring tubes, permitting high flow rates without excessive pressure drops. 40/60 Carbopack materials are typically used in <4 mm I.D. air monitoring tubes, to prevent the channeling that would occur if a large 20/40 material was used in a small-bore tube. The smaller (60/80, 80/100, etc.) Carbopack materials are typically used for all other applications (e.g. GC columns, SPE tubes, purge traps, purification, low-flow air sampling, etc.). As a general rule, use the smallest available particle size as long as the application can accommodate the pressure drop.

The relative adsorptive strength of our Carbotrap/Carbopack materials from weakest to strongest is F, C, Y, B, Z, and X.

  • Carbotrap/Carbopack C and Carbotrap/Carbopack B are the most widely used. This is partly because they were introduced the earliest and partly because they complement one another very well in the analyte size range each can effectively trap/release.
  • Carbotrap/Carbopack F and Carbopack Z were introduced to extend the analyte size range that can be effectively trapped/released. These materials exhibit some overlap to C or B, respectively. Note that bulk Carbotrap/Carbopack F material is only available as a custom item.
  • Carbotrap/Carbopack Y provides an analyte size range that can be effectively trapped/released that overlaps both the low end of C and the high end of B.
  • Carbotrap/Carbopack X is unlike other GCBs because it is porous. With the greatest adsorptive strength of our GCBs, it provides a unique bridge between the GCB and carbon molecular sieve (CMS) materials.

For air monitoring applications, these materials trap a wide range of airborne organic compounds, from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other large molecules down to C4 hydrocarbons.

Our Carbopack materials are widely used as supports for stationary phases in packed GC columns. Because these materials are synthesized under controlled conditions, they may offer better lot-to-lot consistency than the Chromosorb® diatomaceous materials mined from the ground, that are also used as packed GC supports.


Ordering Information (1)
Description Particle Size Package Size Cat. No.
Carbotrap B 20/40 mesh 10 g 20287
144 × 190 mg 11325-U
Carbopack B 60/80 mesh 10 g 20273
Carbopack B HT 60/80 mesh 10 g 20274
Carbotrap C 20/40 mesh 10 g 20309
500 g 11047-U
Carbopack C 60/80 mesh 10 g 10257
80/100 mesh 10 g 10258
Carbotrap X 20/40 mesh 10 g 10435-U
Carbopack X 40/60 mesh 10 g 10436
60/80 mesh 10 g 10437-U
120/400 mesh 50 g 10439-U
Carbotrap Y 20/40 mesh 10 g 10460-U
Carbopack Y 40/60 mesh 10 g 10461-U
60/80 mesh 10 g 10462
120/400 mesh 50 g 10464-U
Carbopack Z 60/80 mesh 10 g 11051-U
Small Particle Size GCB Materials back to top

These small particle size GCBs are suitable for use in electrochemical and bioprocessing applications.

  • Our Mesoporous Carbon (P/N 699640-5G and 14030-U) is a small particle size (40-50 µm) GCB based on the Carbopack X material. Therefore, it has similar physical characteristics to those of Carbopack X.
  • Our Graphitized Carbon Black (P/N 699624-5G and 14029-U), with a particle size <200 nm, is a nanocarbon.
  • While not a GCB, our Purified Carbon Black (P/N 699632-5G and 14028-U) is included here because it is the material used to make P/N 14029-U. It is also a nanocarbon.

 

Ordering Information (1)
Description Particle Size Package Size Cat. No.
Mesoporous Carbon 45 µm 5 g 699640
50 g 14030-U
Graphitized Carbon Black <200 nm 5 g 699624
50 g 14029-U
Purified Carbon Black <200 nm 5 g 699632
50 g 14028-U
  1. While these carbon materials are stable to above 400 °C, the temperature actually used at depends on the application. For example, thermal desorption unit (TDU) tubes are typically desorbed at 330 °C, purge traps containing just our specialty carbons typically use a 250 °C desorption temperature, and GC column applications may work best with final oven temperatures of 225 °C. For assistance in determining the proper temperature for your application, contact Technical Service at techservice@sial.com.