Gas Chromatography (“GC”) is an analytical technique used for separating liquids or gases via a capillary column, using gas as the solvent medium.

 

This technique is used to characterize, identify, and quantitate volatile and semi-volatile components in various sample matrices. Contaminants can be determined from the percent level to part per billion (“PPB”) depending on the analyte being detected.

 

While the GC is a temperature controlled oven, it is the detector to which it is coupled that determines what can be seen. At Impact Analytical, our scientists can use detectors such as:

• Flame Ionization Detection (FID)
• Thermal Conductivity Detection (TCD)
• Electron Capture Ionization (ECI)
• Mass Spectrometer (MS)
• Odor Analysis 
• High Resolution GC Mass Spec

By utilizing both purchased (NIST) and in-house spectral databases the scientists are able to identify unknowns.

 

The GC’s at Impact Analytical are qualified for testing under cGMP or GLP (FDA, EPA) guidelines.