Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Gas Chromatography: Introduction

Gas Chromatography: Introduction

Gas chromatography (GC) is a technique for separating and analyzing volatile compounds in a sample. Its primary purpose is to identify and quantify components in complex mixtures, making it essential in fields such as environmental analysis, pharmaceuticals, and petrochemicals. GC is also called vapor-phase chromatography (VPC) or gas-liquid partition chromatography (GLPC).
In GC, a sample is vaporized and mixed with an inert carrier gas (the mobile phase), which transports it through a column.

Gas Chromatography: Types of Columns and Stationary Phases

Gas Chromatography: Types of Columns and Stationary Phases

Gas chromatography (GC) relies on stationary phases to separate and analyze components in a sample. There are two main types of stationary phases: liquid and solid. Liquid stationary phases are non-volatile, thermally stable, and chemically inert liquids coated onto the column. Solid stationary phases are particles of adsorbent material, such as silica gel or molecular sieves.
For an analyte to remain on the column for a sufficient amount of time, it must exhibit some level of compatibility (or...

Silica Gel Column Chromatography: Overview

Silica Gel Column Chromatography: Overview

Silica gel column chromatography is a technique for separating compounds using a column packed with silica gel as the stationary phase. This method relies on differences in the polarity of compounds. Based on their polarities, compounds move between the stationary phase (silica gel) and the mobile phase (the solvent), forming discrete bands in the column.
Polar components tend to bind strongly to the silica gel, causing them to move slowly through the column. In contrast, nonpolar compounds...

Chromatographic Methods: Terminology

Chromatographic Methods: Terminology

Chromatography is an analytical technique widely used in fields such as chemistry, biology, environmental science, and pharmaceuticals to separate the components of a mixture and identify substances between them. The process of chromatography is based on the interactions between two distinct phases: the stationary phase and the mobile phase. The stationary phase is fixed in place by a supporting material, while the mobile phase moves over it, carrying the solutes. As the mobile phase travels,...

Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS)

Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS)

Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) is the combination of analytical techniques of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry in a single instrument for analyzing a mixture of compounds. The gas chromatograph separates the compounds in the mixture, and the mass spectrometer analyzes each compound separately to determine the molecular masses and molecular structures.
A gas chromatograph consists of a long, narrow capillary column with a polysiloxane coating on the inner wall. The coating...

Gas Chromatography: Sample Injection Systems

Gas Chromatography: Sample Injection Systems

In gas chromatography, the sample is introduced as a vapor plug into the carrier gas stream for high efficiency and resolution. A microsyringe injects the sample solution into a heated sample port, vaporizing it and mixing it with the carrier gas. This process is important to ensure the sample is properly prepared for analysis. Thermally sensitive samples can be injected directly into the column and volatilized by slowly increasing the column temperature.
Two primary injection methods are used...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Determination of Copolymer Block-Length Distributions Using Fragmentation Data Obtained from Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Macromolecules·2026

Same author

MASSISTANT: A deep learning model for De Novo molecular structure prediction from EI‑MS spectra via SELFIES encoding.

Journal of chromatography. A·2025

Same author

Introducing an algorithm to accurately determine copolymer block-length distributions.

Analytica chimica acta·2025

Same author

High-resolution ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry for isomeric separation of prostanoids after Girard's reagent T derivatization.

Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM·2022

Same author

Probing Polyester Branching by Hybrid Trapped Ion-Mobility Spectrometry-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry·2021

Same author

Column Selection and Optimization for Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography: A Review.

Critical reviews in analytical chemistry·2020

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Chromatographic Fingerprinting by Template Matching for Data Collected by Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography

Chromatographic Fingerprinting by Template Matching for Data Collected by Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography

Published on: September 2, 2020

Retention time locking procedure for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography.

John Mommers¹, Jeroen Knooren, Ynze Mengerink

¹DSM Resolve, 6160 MD Geleen, The Netherlands. john.mommers@dsm.com

Journal of Chromatography. A

|September 25, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Reproducible retention times are crucial in gas chromatography (GC). A new two-step method, 2D-RTL, effectively locks retention times in comprehensive two-dimensional GC (GC×GC) for both dimensions.

More Related Videos

Quantitative Detection of Trace Explosive Vapors by Programmed Temperature Desorption Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture Detector

Quantitative Detection of Trace Explosive Vapors by Programmed Temperature Desorption Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture Detector

Published on: July 25, 2014

Qualitative Characterization of the Aqueous Fraction from Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Algae Using 2D Gas Chromatography with Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry

Qualitative Characterization of the Aqueous Fraction from Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Algae Using 2D Gas Chromatography with Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry

Published on: March 6, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Chromatographic Fingerprinting by Template Matching for Data Collected by Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography

Chromatographic Fingerprinting by Template Matching for Data Collected by Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography

Published on: September 2, 2020

Quantitative Detection of Trace Explosive Vapors by Programmed Temperature Desorption Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture Detector

Quantitative Detection of Trace Explosive Vapors by Programmed Temperature Desorption Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture Detector

Published on: July 25, 2014

Qualitative Characterization of the Aqueous Fraction from Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Algae Using 2D Gas Chromatography with Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry

Qualitative Characterization of the Aqueous Fraction from Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Algae Using 2D Gas Chromatography with Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry

Published on: March 6, 2016

Area of Science:

Analytical Chemistry
Chromatography

Background:

Reproducible retention times are essential in gas chromatography (GC) for accurate analysis.
One-dimensional GC utilizes retention time locking (RTL) via column head pressure adjustment.
Standard RTL is ineffective in comprehensive two-dimensional GC (GC×GC) due to shifts in both dimensions.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and demonstrate a novel, rapid, and practical retention time locking procedure for GC×GC.
To address the challenge of retention time shifts in both primary and secondary dimensions of GC×GC analysis.

Main Methods:

A two-step 2D-RTL procedure was developed.
This involves adjusting column head pressure or flow, followed by modifying the effective secondary column length by physical repositioning within the modulator.

Main Results:

The proposed 2D-RTL procedure effectively minimizes retention time shifts in both GC×GC dimensions.
Shifts were reduced to less than half of the peak base width, even after column set replacement.
The method has been successfully implemented in routine laboratory use for approximately one year.

Conclusions:

The novel 2D-RTL procedure offers a robust solution for achieving reproducible retention times in GC×GC.
This technique enhances the reliability and accuracy of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography analyses.
The simplicity and effectiveness of the 2D-RTL method make it a valuable tool for chromatographers.