GAS LIQUID

CHROMATOGRAPHY
ILLUSTRATION
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATIONS

The principle in gas-liquid chromatography involves separation of

components of the samples under test due to partition between
gaseous mobile phase and stationary heat phase. The components
partitioned into gas come out first while other comes after.
Mobile phase (moving phase)
Inert carrier gas (usually He or N)
Stationary phase
Layer of liquid or polymer on inert solid support
Inside a glass or metal tubing (COLUMN)
ADVANTAGES

Instrument is simple.
Time of analysis is short.
High sensitivity. The method is applicable to about 60% of organic
compounds.
This method has a high resolution power compared to other methods.
This method has high sensitivity when used with thermal detectors.
This technique gives relatively good accuracy and precision.
Separation and analysis of sample very quickly.
Sample with less quantity is also separated.
DISADVANTAGES

Slow vaporization of stationary phase leading to change in

column criteria, contaminates the product.
Only volatile samples or the sample which can be made volatile
are separated by this method.
During injection of the gaseous sample proper attention is
required.
The sample of gas which is about to inject must be thermally
stable so that it does not get degraded when heated.
GLC IS USEFUL FOR SEPARATING IONS OR MOLECULES THAT ARE
DISSOLVED IN A SOLVENT

Compound is injected with syringe into sample injector

Compound is carried by carrier gas and vaporized

Vaporized sample interacts with walls of column

Some samples interact more some less

Due to interaction samples elute at different times

Retention times
Comparison of retentions times is what is useful

A detector monitors the outlet stream from the column