Gas Chromatography (GC)

This month's column reviews some basic GC measurements and calculations that can be applied to questions of column quality. By understanding the analytical process, chromatographers can improve the quality of their results.

This report describes five small and very useful accessories developed 40 years ago to adapt gas chromatographs for special tasks.

This month's "GC Connections" begins a multipart series about gas chromatograph performance optimization. In this first part, John Hinshaw addresses questions of instrument capabilities and chromatographers' expectations, as well as manual–hardware optimization strategies and software-separation strategies.

In the first of two "GC Connections" columns, Hinshaw responds to reader questions about the signal-to-noise ratio and what it means in practical terms.

A second installment of "GC Connections" answers a reader's question about dual-column gas chromatography systems and their proper maintenance.

The authors describe a method of reductive chlorination that enables the determination of total PCB content by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection.

The authors compare their results in analyzing styrene–butadiene block copolymers by gel permeation chromatography with other methods, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and pyrolysis gas chromatography.

In part I, Hinshaw described a simple experiment with coins to explain the statistical nature of separations and to impart a better understanding of the physical processes inside the column. In part II, he compares this coin-toss simulation with chromatographic columns and describes differences between the analogy and real-world situations.

The guest authors summarize the history of this Japanese scientific instrument company and events in the development of its products.

Analysts can optimize their separations by using combinations of two columns connected in series. This type of coupled column system produces peak separations that are a combination of separations obtained on each column.

According to Analysis and Fate of Surfactants in the Aquatic Environment (Volume 40 of Wilson & Wilson's Comprehensive Analytical Chemistry), an understanding of the fate and behaviour of organic chemicals, such as surfactants?