Basic Gas Chromatography Course

Usually held in the third week of November each year;  Tuesday to Friday inclusive.

Course content
(there may be small changes in the practicals dependent on instrument availability)

Day 1

 

 

Lecture 1

Introduction to Basic GC

Basic definitions and terms
GC configurations; packed, mega, capillary. Separation processes; concept of efficiency and selectivity; final outcome is resolution/separation

Practical 1

Practical information and troubleshooting

Three groups for demonstrations
Columns and packings, syringes
GC configuration, gas supplies, leaks, dead volume.
Instrument design and components

Lecture 2

Columns

Factors affecting efficiency; dimensions, capacity, splitter, phase thickness, gas flows, temperature programming.
Detectors; principle of FID

Practical 2

Basic operations

Installation of columns
Measuring gas flows
Injection techniques; retention time, hold up time, peak area, calculating N

 

Group Dinner

 

Day 2

 

 

Lecture 3

Qualitative separations

Phases and their character; retention index, Rohrschnieder and McReynolds constants; thick and thin film effects. Log relationship with temperature programming

Practical 3

Column phase effects

Use of polar and non-polar columns. Temperature programme analysis. Develop isothermal separation conditions. Test samples and retention index values.

Lecture 4

Data capture

Range, attenuation concepts; use of integrators, data systems. Essential parameters; peak width, sampling rate, slope sensitivity, area reject. Handling incompletely resolved peaks; re-integration of data.

Practical 4

Integration

Use test mixtures and vary integration parameters. Repeat with more complex mixtures and develop resolution and quantitation of components.

 

Wrap up and discussion

Review results and discuss principles or problems. Concludes approx. 7 pm.

Day 3

 

 

Lecture 5

Quantitation

Area %. External standard and internal standard. Response factors. QC/QA (blanks, replicates, spikes). Accuracy vs precision

Practical 5

Practical quantitations

Obtain mean, SD, % deviation for previous samples. Analyse and quantify unknowns

Day 4

 

 

Practical 6

 

Continue with practicals from previous day

Lecture 6

Wrap up and discussion

Review of course; problems
Conclude approx. 1.30 pm