Chromatography basically involves separating mixtures and gas chromatography is a method of so doing. Gas chromatography is a lab technique that is commonly used in labs all over the world. Gas chromatography specifically separates gases from each other. To perform gas chromatography a complex instrument is used, called a gas chromatograph.

Gas chromatography is used in analytical chemistry. However, because gas chromatography produces very high temperatures, it cannot be used for high molecular weight biopolymers. Gas chromatography is also widely used in biochemistry. Industries that make use of gas chromatography include industrial chemical, petrochemical and environmental monitoring. You will also see gas chromatography used in chemistry research, as gas chromatography is the only way to separate the gases.

In gas chromatography there is a mobile phase and a stationary phase. In gas chromatography the mobile phase will be an inert gas such as helium, hydrogen or nitrogen. Air can also be used in gas chromatography, as it is an inert gas. The stationary phase for the gas chromatography will be a layer of liquid, which is inside a tubing made from metal or glass called a column.

In gas chromatography the instrument used, the gas chromatograph, is electronic and so the results of the gas chromatography, are all provided electronically. For different purposes of gas chromatography the flow of the gases can be altered. The temperature can also be changed for the gas chromatography experiment.

Gas chromatography was first put into use around 1950, although chromatography, the predecessor of gas chromatography, was first invented in 1901. Gas chromatography is often abbreviated as GC.

Running a gas chromatography experiment takes at least an hour. The process of gas chromatography, of heating up the gases etc… , is very complex and for detailed results the experiment cannot be rushed.

LSL