(gas chromatography def)
Gas chromatography (GC) separates volatile compounds through differential partitioning between mobile gas and stationary phases. Modern systems achieve detection limits below 0.1 ppm while maintaining analysis speeds exceeding 30 samples/hour. Unlike liquid chromatography, GC operates at elevated temperatures (50-400°C), enabling rapid vaporization without compound degradation.
When compared to HPLC, GC systems demonstrate 83% faster run times for hydrocarbon analysis (EPA 8015B). Flame ionization detectors achieve 0.01 ng sensitivity, outperforming UV-Vis detectors in petroleum applications. Modular designs permit simultaneous installation of multiple detectors (FID, TCD, MSD) without cross-contamination risks.
Manufacturer | Detection Limit | Temp Range (°C) | Analysis Speed | Price Range |
---|---|---|---|---|
Agilent | 0.05 ppm | 40-450 | 28 samples/h | $38K-$72K |
Thermo Fisher | 0.08 ppm | 30-400 | 25 samples/h | $41K-$68K |
Shimadzu | 0.12 ppm | 50-420 | 30 samples/h | $35K-$65K |
Our configurable GC platforms support 17 detector combinations and 8 column types. For permanent gas analysis, dual TCD systems achieve 0.02% repeatability across 6-component mixtures. Process GC models withstand 85°C ambient temperatures in refinery environments without performance degradation.
A petrochemical client reduced benzene analysis time from 45 to 12 minutes using our GC-MS configuration, achieving 99.7% correlation with reference methods. Environmental monitoring stations utilizing our portable GC-TCD units detected methane concentrations at 2.3 ppb with ±5% measurement accuracy.
Automated leak detection algorithms cut maintenance downtime by 40% in continuous operations. Advanced flow controllers maintain carrier gas stability within 0.01% during 72-hour runs. Integrated diagnostic systems predict column failure with 92% accuracy through pressure trend analysis.
Microfluidic GC chips now separate 15 VOCs in under 90 seconds, consuming 80% less carrier gas. Hybrid GC-LC systems enable sequential analysis of complex matrices through automated heart-cutting. Recent advances in semi-packed columns boost theoretical plate counts beyond 850,000/meter for chiral separations.
(gas chromatography def)