Does anyone know how a Gas Chromatograph machine works??????

Question

I am a student who is doing a rsearch paper on the humans interpretation on what exactly a GC system is.

Answer 1

Gas Chromatographic is a simple tool where the the volatilized sample (which we inject as a solution) separates in many components by their interaction with the long column (often 3 Ft to 100 ft) which is maintained at high temperatures. This temperature can be programmed ( 60 dec C - to - 300 dec C on various gradients). Type of column (polarity) and length determines the separation obtained at the end. Finally, it is the detection that can make a lot of difference as well. Universal deter such as Flam Ionization (FID), Electron Capture Detector (ECD), Nitrogen-{phosphorus Detector (NPD) and Mass Spectrometer have been used as a detection system very effectively.

To sum - up temperature, volatility of the analyte, Molecular weight, type & length of the column and Detector will determine the outcome and the quality of analysis.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

There are different types of gas chromatographs, but the two basic kinds consist of a either a packed chamber containing various types of material...certain types of clays or silica gels. The other has a capillary tube that is several hundred feet long.

In both cases a carrier gas is passed through the tube, and the mterial to be analyzed is injected into this gas stream. As the material passes through either the packed bed or capillary tube, the molecules of the various components are clustered together. One way to think of it is two or more groups of cars travelling down a highway with multiple lanes. All the cars of one color go the same speed and bunch together, while cars of different color go a different speed, and bunch together a different lane.

Now as the various compounds are separated, they are passed through a detector to measure the relative amount of each. The most common type of detector is called a Flame Ionization Detector, or FID. Another type is called a Thermal Conductivity detector. In the case of the FID, the flame temperature varies whe the different compounds pass through it, and this can be measured and converted to a measureable parameter. In the case of the TC detector, as the various components pass accross an electrode, a small current is applied, which varies differently for each component.....again allowing for a sensible change that can be measured.

Once the measurements are taken the information is stored in a computer and the relative amounts of each compound are compared. It's important to note that a gas chromatograph must be calibrated, so it can relate how much of any given component exists in the total group. This is done by making a very precised mixture of the compounds that are to be measured or one similar to them. This is called a standard. The standard solution is run through the chromatograph, and the signal developed is calibrated to the concentration of the standard.

You should also know, that doing good analytical work and getting reliable and accurate results from a gas chromatograph takes a skilled and knowledgeable technician or chemist. While the popular television shows make it look so easy, it takes many hours of work to develop and perfect a good analytical method using a gas chromatograph.

Answer 3

Heater, to vaporise sample, column to separate sample into constituent. parts and some kind of detector to measure the relative amounts of each constituent. More sophisticated models have a mass spectrometer as the detector and these machines can give pretty good identification of the chemical components of the sample.

Answer 4

yup it vaporizes stuff and when it goes through the column stuff is separated by bp. google manufacturers most of them have manuals online

fisher.com

Answer 5

no i do not know how to use ur thingamabob