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Principles of Gas Chromatography (GC)

Chromatographic techniques like GC involve passing a “mobile phase”, containing the sample, through a “stationary phase” which slows the mobile phase to varying degrees dependent on how strongly the components interact. This slowing causes the components to be separated in time.

In GC (Gas Chromatography), the mobile phase is the sample which has been vaporised and carried in an inert gas, typically Helium, through a column which contains the stationary phase which can either be a solid or liquid coated on a solid support which retards the passage of the mobile phase.

 Typical Applications of GC

• Formulation analysis of organic mixtures
• Trace analysis of organic species
• Health and Safety monitoring
• Atmospheric sampling
• Electronic Cigarette nicotine determinations.

Features of Laboratory’s GC Capability

LPD Lab Services has an HP5890 Gas Chromatograph / Capillary GC instrument.

Gas Chromatograph fitted with FID detector:-

• Temperature range - Ambient to 450 °C
• Temperature programmable - +50 to +350 °C
• Program rate one - 0.01 to 9.99 °C in 0.01 °C /minute steps
• Program rate two - 10 °C to 49.9 °C @ 0.1 °C/ minute steps
• FID Sensitivity - 1 x 10-12 per second for Toluene
• FID Linearity range - 107 decades
• FID Sensitivity - 10-12 Amps.

For formulation analysis, trace analysis and H&S monitoring of organic species:-

• A TD4 thermal desorption unit, can be attached for use with diffusive atmospheric sampling apparatus. The diffusive tubes are used for passive sampling of workplace atmospheres, and can be worn on the lapel of operatives where they absorb a representative sample of the workplace atmospheric organics.

Our site expert on GC is Steven Whittle.

		Method Development and Validation Analytical method developement and method validation using the laboratory's range of techniques and experience

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GC & XPS of Thermal processed Ni Cr & Catalytic Activity.

Please contact us to discuss how your requirements can be met using this or any of our analytical techniques. We can issue no-obligation quotations once we have discussed your needs and can offer two levels of service “urgent” and “normal”. We also offer preferential rates for longer term analysis contracts.