Enhancing LOD determination in gas chromatography: Validating the Hubaux-Vos method for gas concentration measurement

•Validation of the Hubaux-Vos methodology through a comparative analysis between theoretically derived LODs and those experimentally determined.•A methodology which can be easily handled for the validation of a theoretical approach for estimating LODs of GC.•Successful verification of the theoretical approach using GC equipped with a discharge ionization detector (DID) and a dynamic dilution system. The limit of detection (LOD) is a crucial measure in analytical methods, representing the smallest amount of a substance that can be distinguished from background noise. In the realm of gas chromatography (GC), however, determining LOD can be quite subjective, leading to significant variability among researchers. In this study, we validate the Hubaux-Vos method, an International Standards Organization(ISO)-approved approach for determining LOD in gas concentration measurements, using a GC equipped with a discharge ionization detector (DID) and a dynamic dilution system. We employ a gas mixture certified reference material (CRM) of CO, CH4, and CO2 at various concentrations to generate calibration curves for each gas. Subsequently, we estimate the LODs for each gas using the Hubaux-Vos method. Surprisingly, our findings indicate a notable difference between the LODs calculated using the Hubaux-Vos method and those confirmed through experiments. This highlights the importance of critically examining the theoretical foundations of LOD determination. We strongly recommend researchers to scrutinize the principles guiding LOD determination. The method proposed in this study offers an effective way to rigorously validate theoretical approaches for estimating LODs in gas concentration measurements using GC.