The structure of the surface ionization detector (
SID) and the operation parameters of GC-
SID were investigated to reduce peak tailing and to enhance sensitivity. The performances of the GC-
SID, including its repeatability, linearity, sensitivity, selectivity, and tolerance towards
water vapor, were evaluated systematically. Compared with
nitrogen-
phosphorus detector (
NPD), the
SID was able to detect fg level
triethylamine, and selectively respond to alkylamines, some
anilines, and some
nitrogen heterocyclic compounds. Among alkylamines, the
SID sensitivity to diisobutylamine was rather small. Even so, it was also still 10 times higher than that on
NPD. The
SID selectivity, defined as the sensitivity ratio between
triethylamine and various tested non-
nitrogen compounds, was higher than 10(6). It was found that the
SID is highly tolerant towards
water vapor, allowing direct injection of water sample. Finally, the GC-
SID was applied to directly measure trace
amines in headspace
gases of rotted meat and trace
simazine in tap water. The
SID sensitivity to
simazine was proven to be 5 times higher than that on flame ionization detector (FID). This study suggests that the
SID is a promising GC detector.