Gas chromatography is a type of column chromatography which is used to separate the volatile organic compounds. In this, the solid phase can be any inert gas like nitrogen, helium, and hydrogen and the stationary phase can be any liquid or solid. This process is widely used in so many industrial, pharmaceutical and other significant areas. Let us check out some important facts about it.
What are the different types of gas chromatography?
There are two types of gas chromatography:
- GSC: In this type, the packed column is filled with the solid sorbent.
- GLC: In this type, a thin liquid layer is used.
What are gas chromatography columns?
Let us understand the physics behind the gas chromatography columns. These columns are used to separate the identical elements of the gases without the decomposition. In this process, the sample gas is injected into the gas chromatography columns and then separated in another column in the stationary phase. After the separation process, the sample of the separated gas is identified in the detector. In this, all process the separation of the gases is done by the interactions taken place in between the volatile analytes and the stationary phase. There are two major types of columns used in gas chromatography. These are packed column and capillary columns.
Capillary columns are mostly used nowadays. These are also known as open tubular columns. They use fused silica capillary coated with the polyamide layer.
What are the functions of Gas Chromatography columns?
Chromatography columns are known as the heart of the gas chromatographer. In this column, the interaction between the solute and the stationary phase within the column occurs. This is an important part of the separation process. You should also know that the stationary phase used in the gas chromatography is of two types: solid or liquid. Molecule sieve is the most retentive stationary component. This component is used to separate the smallest and the most volatile components of the gases. The conditions required for the GC operation require some optimizations. Most of the GC analyzers are hence set in the factory with a proper flow of temperature and different other parameters.
How does GC Machine work?
- First of all the sample is injected into the GC Column.
- After that this sample flows through the inert gas.
- And finally, the components of the gas are recorded as the sequences of the peaks.
- If we want to analyses the number of components, then it’s very easy. A number of the peaks show the number of the components present in the mixture.
- The identity of the components can be done by the retention time of the components.
What are the requirements of the carrier gas used in the GC?
Not every gas can be used as a carrier gas in the GC Analyzer; there are some requirements that need to be fulfilled. These are:
- First of all the gas should be inert.
- After that, the gas should be highly purified.
- The gas should be easily available and cheap.
- The next thing is, the gas should be suitable for the detector.
- The most important thing is that the gas should not have the risk of fire.
What are the major applications of the gas chromatographer?
- Gas chromatography is used in the process of removing the pollutant from the drinking and wastewater.
- This chromatographer is used in the pharmaceutical industries at a wider level.
- Cosmetics industries also use gas chromatographer.
- The air sampling process is done by using gas chromatographer.
- This is also used to determine or identify the amount of drug in the given medicine.
These are used in the analysis of organic and inorganic compounds.
