Gas Chromatography (GC) is the most commonly used analytical technique for determining the number and concentration of components in a volatile mixture or the presence of volatile impurities in a substance. It can also be utilized to aid the positive identification of a compound.

A simplified description of the technique is that the sample, usually a liquid, is injected into the GC. The sample is flash vaporized and is carried into the column by the carrier gas. As the sample passes through the column, it is separated into the individual components. As each component passes through the detector, it appears as deflection on the chart. The area under this deflection is proportional to the concentration of the component in the original sample.

Examples

• Reaction monitoring.
• Identification of residual solvents in final product.
• Determination of solvent purity.
• Trace analysis of volatile impurities in solid and liquid matrices.
• VOC air monitoring.
• Pesticide and pharmaceutical intermediate and final product assays.
• Identification of residual monomers in polymers.
• Flavor and fragrance component identification and quantification.