Source: Laboratory of Dr. B. Jill Venton - University of Virginia

Gas chromatography (GC) is used to separate and detect small molecular weight compounds in the gas phase. The sample is either a gas or a liquid that is vaporized in the injection port. Typically, the compounds analyzed are less than 1,000 Da, because it is difficult to vaporize larger compounds. GC is popular for environmental monitoring and industrial applications because it is very reliable and can be run nearly continuously. GC is typically used in applications where small, volatile molecules are detected and with non-aqueous solutions. Liquid chromatography is more popular for measurements in aqueous samples and can be used to study larger molecules, because the molecules do not need to vaporize. GC is favored for nonpolar molecules while LC is more common for separating polar analytes.

The mobile phase for gas chromatography is a carrier gas, typically helium because of its low molecular weight and being chemically inert. Pressure is applied and the mobile phase moves the analyte through the column. The separation is accomplished using a column coated with a stationary phase. Open tubular capillary columns are the most popular columns and have the stationary phase coated on the walls of the capillary. Stationary phases are often derivatives of polydimethylsiloxane, with 5–10% of the groups functionalized to tune the separation. Typical functional groups are phenyl, cyanopropyl, or trifluoropropyl groups. Capillary columns are usually 5–50 m long. Narrower columns have higher resolution but require higher pressures. Packed columns can also be used where the stationary phase is coated onto beads packed in the column. Packed columns are shorter, 1–5 m. Open tubular capillaries are generally preferred because they allow higher efficiencies, faster analyses, and have higher capacities.

Flame-ionization detection (FID) is a good general detector for organic compounds in GC that detects the amount of carbon in a sample. After the column, samples are burned in a hot, hydrogen-air flame. Carbon ions are produced by the combustion. While the overall efficiency of the process is low (only 1 in 10⁵ carbon ions produce an ion in the flame) the total amount of ions is directly proportional to the amount of carbon in the sample. Electrodes are used to measure the current from the ions. FID is a destructive detector, as the entire sample is pyrolyzed. FID is unaffected by noncombustible gases and water.