Gas Chromatography

overview

University of Science HCMC - Analytical Dept.

Instrumental Analysis – Chromatography

2018
 Chromatography
- a separation technique

Mobile phase

Solute

Stationary phase
 Gas chromatography

• GC: chromatography technique with gaseous

mobile phase
• GC is a technique used to separate , identify
and quantify compounds in a sample mixture.
• Compounds are separated primarily by
differences in their volatilities and structures
(polarity)
• Compounds must vaporize * into the gas phase
and thermally stable
How does a GC work?
 Carrier gas
Regulators
Carrier
gas

Molecular
Sieve

Moisture Hydrocarbon O2 O2 Indicator

Pure He, N2 Further purifying carrier gas by

(> 99.995%) humidity, hydrocarbon, and O2 traps
Split / splitless injector
Split / splitless injector
Split / splitless injection

•Split mode:
– Split ratio
– Solvent
•Splitless mode:
– Solvent effect
– Time to close split valve
GC Columns
Polyimide coating

Fused silica

Stationary phase
GC Columns
 GC Columns – liquid stationary phase

Poly(siloxane) Polyethylene glycol (PEG)

Polarity

Polarity
R: methyl  phenyl  cyanopropyl
GC Columns – liquid stationary phase
GC Columns

Polarity of solutes and recommended stationary phase

GC Columns
Flame ionization detector (FID)

Organic compounds

H2 flame

CHO  ē
Flame Ionization Detector (FID)

 Universal
 High sensitivity
- Highest to hydrocarbons
- Proportional to number of C
- O, N, S, Halogen yield lower responses
 Wide linear range (106-107)
 Robust
 Easy to use
Manual injection with syringes

Poor precision of sample volume with manual injection!

Barriel with graduations Plunger

INTERNAL STANDARD as a solution

 How to use internal standard (IS)?

Analyte concentration C1 C2 C3 C4 C5

+ + + + +
IS concentration CIS CIS CIS CIS CIS
Internal standard (IS) and how to use?
Ax

Ax /AIS

Better linearity

C
General elution problem in chromatography
A single set of conditions is often unsatisfactory for
good separation of all components in a complex mixture
in an acceptable time  temperature program is necessary
 Gas chromatography

- High separation power ( N > 100.000)

- Versatility: samples from gases to liquids
containing rather high boiling point compounds
- Low cost compared to other analytical
techniques
- Sensitivity: ppm-ppt level
- Short analysis time: down to several-minute run
time
- Easy to use
Typical gas chromatogram

Separation of
fragrance
compounds by GC