ABSTRACT
The flame ionization detector (FID) is now universally employed in gas chromatography of carbohydrates, as for other organic compounds. If strongly electronegative atoms are introduced on derivatization, as is the case with trifluoroacetylation, the more sensitive and selective electron capture detector can be used. Detection of carbohydrates at picogram level by this method has been reported (see Table GC 12, Reference 3; Table GC 14, References 2 and 3).
