Gas Chromatography

Gas Chromatography (GC) is a separation technique based on the same principles as in HPLC in that compounds are separated due to differences in their ability to partition, or transfer between the stationary and mobile phase. However in GC the mobile phase is gaseous rather than liquid and only volatile organic compounds can be analysed. The lab is equipped with five GC instruments, Hewlett Packard 6890, Hewlett Packard 6890 with autosampler, Agilent 6890N with autosampler, Shimadzu GC-17A with autosampler and Varian 3380. In addition there are two GC-MS instruments, a Perkin Elmer Clarus 500 with Clarus 560S mass spec and auto sampler and a Shimadzu GC-17A with QP-5000 mass spec. They can be fitted with a range of capillary columns with alternative polarities for the separation of different classes of compounds. The GCs are equipped with efficient ovens enabling fast heat-up (100°C/min) and cool-down cycles for rapid sample turnover. Additionally three of the GCs and the Perkin Elmer GC-MS are equipped with autosampler units with the capacity for 100 samples for increased sample throughput.

The group utilises the GCs, for instance, for monitoring the progress of reactions as well as determination of final yields in general and specifically in the evaluation of catalysts, including mechanistic studies, determination of reaction rates and catalyst efficiency, and product mixture composition and distribution.