Analysis of GC Results

The time (retention time) until the injected

sample reaches the detector is a
Information characteristic value of each component.

Obtained from Investigating the retention time under given

the Analysis analysis conditions makes it possible to
determine what a component is (qualitative
Results analysis).

Additionally, the size of the component peak,

in other words its area and height, makes it
possible to determine how much of the
component there is (quantitative analysis).
Qualitative Analysis
• The elution time when analyzed
under given conditions is a
characteristic of each component.
In other words, when the same
component is analyzed under the
same conditions, a peak is
confirmed at the same time.

• For example, imagine an unknown

sample known to contain
component A and component B.
The chromatogram obtained from
the unknown sample looks as
follows. It is not possible to know
which peak is component A, and
which peak is component B.
 •However, if standard samples of
A and B are prepared, and are
analyzed under the same
conditions, the retention times
for A and B become evident.
By comparing these
chromatograms, the peaks for A
and B in the chromatogram of the
unknown sample can be
determined.
•When analyzed under the same
conditions, the same component
always elutes at the same time.
(The retention times are
With GC, the retention time is the sole qualitative information. equivalent.)
→ For qualitative analysis, a standard sample is required (in
principle).
For this reason, if a standard sample is not available, it is not possible to determine what a
peak is.

it’s important to note that components exist with the same retention times under given
analysis conditions. In other words, a seemingly single peak could indicate multiple
components. In this case, cross checks must be performed by changing the column or the
temperature conditions.

when performing GC analysis, it’s very important to completely separate the peaks.
 •In a GC chromatogram, the size and area of the component peak are
proportional to the amount of the component reaching the detector.
Here, we describe a quantitative analysis investigating the
concentration of component A in an unknown sample.

Quantitative •First, 1 μL of the unknown sample is analyzed, and the area of the peak
for component A in the chromatogram obtained has a count of 700.
Analysis Next, a standard sample is prepared with a concentration of component
A of 100 ppm. 1 μL of this is analyzed under the same conditions, and a
count of 1000 is obtained as the peak area.
•The peak area is proportional to the amount of the component, so if a
100 ppm concentration has a count of 1000, a 700 count means a 70
ppm concentration.
As with qualitative analysis, one could say that a standard sample is
also required for quantitative analysis.
•T he area (height) of the component peak is proportional to the amount
of component reaching the detector.
(Note: In FPD S mode, it is proportional to the square of the component
amount.)
There differents methods used for quantifications:-
 •The percentage peak area method uses the area of
the target component (component A) peak as a
proportion of the total area of all detected peaks to
analyze quantity. This method is used to determine
Percentage Peak changes in concentration of a known sample
Area Method mixture, or to determine an approximate
concentration of a sample mixture.
•Advantages: Simple analysis since no standard
sample is used.
Disadvantages: Reduced quantitation accuracy due
to the effect of relative component sensitivity.
•*Notes
 All sample components must be detected.
• All components must have the same relative
sensitivity
•Component A concentration
is 1000/4500 = 22.2 %
 The corrected percentage peak area method is the percentage
peak area method with compensation for the relative
sensitivities of each component.

Corrected
Advantages: Performs quantitative analysis by the percentage
Percentage Peak peak area method but with compensation for relative
Area Method component sensitivity.
Disadvantages: Requires a standard sample containing all
components in known concentrations.

*Notes
All sample components must be detected

•.
Component A concentration is 500/2417 = 20.7 %
 •The absolute calibration curve method uses a
standard sample of known concentration to
prepare a calibration curve, then uses this curve
Absolute to quantify components in an unknown sample.
Calibration Curve Analysis can be relatively simple since only the
Method (External target component needs to be detected to
Standard Method) determine quantity. This is also the most popular
method of quantitative analysis.
•Advantages: Quantitative analysis requires only
separation and detection of the target component.
Disadvantages: Sample injection volume errors
carry over as errors in quantitative results.
Component A concentration is 70 PPM
 Internal Standard Method
•The internal standard method calculates the target component concentration based on the relationship between the peak area ratio and
concentration ratio of the target component and an internal standard.
•Advantages：
– Quantity can be calculated as long as the target component and internal standard are detected.
– Concentration ratio is not dependent on injection volume, so this method compensates for injection volume errors.
– Not susceptible to different sample densities caused by different sample compositions.
•Disadvantages：
– Requires a standard sample containing a known concentration of the target component and the internal standard.
– The internal standard must be added to all unknown samples to obtain an accurate concentration.
•*Notes
•Selecting the internal standard can be difficult as it must fulfill all the requirements shown below.
Is separated almost completely from all components in the sample.
Is eluted close to the target component.
Has similar chemical properties to the target component (homologue, etc.).
Is chemically stable.
•Concentration of target component in
unknown sample
100 ppm (concentration of internal
standard in unknown sample) × 0.7 / 1.2 =
58 ppm
Component A concentration is 58 PPM
Standard Addition Method

The standard addition method analyzes an

Advantages ： Other components in the sample
unknown sample and the same unknown
(matrix) can mitigate the effect (matrix effect) of
sample spiked with a known amount of target
changes in sample composition when
component, then uses the difference between
introduced to a gas chromatograph.
detected peak areas (peak height) to determine
Disadvantages ： Extra work is required to add
quantity. This quantitative method is often used
the target component to the unknown sample.
to analyze samples containing a target
Because a target component is added to the
component affected by the concentration of
unknown sample (sometimes multiple
other components in the sample, such as odor
quantities), rare samples cannot be used.
component analysis and headspace analysis.
•The concentration (ppm) of
component A in the unknown
sample is shown by the
absolute
value at the intersection with
the horizontal axis (quantity
added).
Component A concentration
is 50 PPM