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The ECD uses a radioactive Beta emitter (electrons) to ionize some of the carrier gas and produce a current between a biased pair of electrodes. When organic molecules that contain electronegative functional groups, such as halogens, phosphorous, and nitro groups pass by the detector, they capture some of the electrons and reduce the current measured between the electrodes. The ECD is as sensitive as the FID but has a limited dynamic range and finds its greatest application in analysis of halogenated compounds. Instrumentation
Schematic of an ECD"
