GC Basic Principles

What is chromatography
Separation Science
Organizing by size
Organizing by boiling point
(vapor pressure)
Organizing by solubility

After

Before

What is Gas Chromatography

Performed in the vapor state

Requires a mobile phase, gas
Requires a stationary phase
Molecules migrate between the phases

GC Instrument

Gas Chromatographic Equipment

SAMPLE
PREPARATION
AND INJECTION
SYSTEMS
AUTOSAMPLERS

CHROMATOGRAPHIC
SEPARATION
SYSTEMS

GC BASIC UNITS

SAMPLE
PREPARATION
SYSTEMS

GC
Detector

DETECTION &
IDENTIFICATION
SYSTEMS

GC DETECTORS

INTEGRATORS

MS DETECTORS

Gaschromatog.
DATA SYSTEMS

GC Basic
Unit

Autosampler
Data
system

DATA
SYSTEMS

MS Detector

Autosampler
Data
system

GC Basic
Unit

GC/SA

Benchtop GC/MS

GC Instrument : injector

Requirements for the ideal injector

Capable to quantitative accept a broad volatility range of sample
components
Low discrimination
To handle dirty and clean matrices
With dirty matrices reduces sample clean-up
With clean matrices boosts sensitivity
Extremely inert
Able to handle polar/active compounds
Provide optimum band shape

Injection techniques

Vaporizing
Injectors:
SSL
PPKD
PKD
PTV

No-vaporizing
Injectors:
On-column

Injectors

True cold oncolumn

split/
splitless

PTV

Packed and
wide-bore
columns

General criteria for injection system selection

PTV

PTV

Cold On-Column Injector

PRIMARY COOLING
SYSTEM

SECONDARY COOLING
SYSTEM

Primary
cooling
system

SBP
Room
Temp.
temperature

Carrier
gas
Cooling fluid
(secondary
cooling)

Liquid sample
droplets

Liquid sample
plug

Liquid sample
film

Oven
temperature

Split Injector

Additional
Insulating

Septum
Purge

Carrier

Split Line
50 mm
Syringe
Glass Liner
5 mm ID
Splitting Point
Injector
Chamber

Liner

Length of Column
Inside Injector = 40 mm

Terminal
Fitting

Carrier
Pathway
Column

Capillary
Column

7001-1417
970810

Splitless Injector

Additional
Insulating

Septum
Purge

Carrier

Split Line

80 mm
Syringe
Splitless
Liner

Length of Column
Inside Injector = 64 mm

Capillary
Column

77001-1416
970805

PTV Injector
Septum purge line
Septum
Splitting
line

Carrier gas
inlet

Liner

Heating
element

FORCED AIR
COOLING

OVEN

Column

Carrier

Septum
purge
line
Splitting
line

GC Instrument

GC Instrument : column oven

Automatic Column Characterisation

Automatic Column Characterisation

Injector Pressure Programming

GC Instrument

Detectors Overview

Detectors Principles

Detectors Characteristics
RESPONSE MECHANISM
Concentration dependent: TCD, ECD, PID
Mass rate dependent: FID, NPD, FPD

NON DESTRUCTIVE

DESTRUCTIVE

TCD, ECD, PID

FID, NPD, FPD

RESPONSE TYPE
Universal: TCD, FID, (PID)
Selective: ECD, NPD, FPD, (PID)

FID : Flame Ionization Detector

Air

Column
effluent
+Hydrogen

ECD : Electron Capture Detector

Outlet

Radioactive
source

Column effluent + make-up gas

NPD : Nitrogen Phosphorous Detector

Collecting
electrode
Heated
source

Air

Column effluent + Hydrogen

FPD : Flame Photometric Detector

Interference
filter

Air

Column effluent
+ Hydrogen

Photomultipier tube

PID : Photo Ionization Detector

Heat sink
UV
lamp

Quartz cell

GC column

Exit tube

Application Note: Blood/Alcohol

Coupling Chromatography to
Mass Spectrometry
Separation plus identification

Source & Analyzer

TRACE DSQ components

Ion Source

Analytical
Quadrupole

Curved Quadrupole Pre-filter

Detector

Quadrupole Wiring

X Quadrupole Rod Pair

AC and pos DC Voltage

Series1

Y Quadrupole Rod Pair

0.5

1.5

AC and neg DC Voltage

Stability Regions

APEX (0.706, 0.23699)

YZ-stable

XZ-stable

Mathieu Parameters

RF =

m r2

e 2qz
DC =

m r2

e 4az

e = charge (constant =1)

m = Mass in kg
r = radius = distance between
rod inner surface and center
of quadrupole
w = 2 * frequency (1100 kHz)

DSQ II Single Quadrupole

Literature Available for DSQ II

Confirmation of Drugs of Abuse Application/Technical Notes
Marijuana

PCP

Cocaine

Amphetamines

Opiates