BSK3123 SEPARATION TECHNIQUE

GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY (GC)

TUTORIAL

1. What is meant by temperature programming in GC? Why is it frequently used?

2. What are the differences between a concentration-sensitive and mass-sensitive detector?

3. Discuss why the combination of GC and MS is so powerful.

4. What is the packing material used in most packed GC column?

5. How does the following open tubular column differ?

(a) PLOT column
(b) WCOT column
(c) SCOT column

6. What are the advantages of fused-silica capillary columns compared with glass or metal columns?

7. What is the effect of the stationary-phase film thickness on gas chromatography?

8. List the variables that lead to (a) band broadening and (b) band separation in GLC?

9. A polar compound was gas chromatographed on an SE-30 (very non-polar) column and then on a Carbowax
20M (very polar) column. How will K = cS/cM vary between the two columns?

10. A separation of compound P, Q and R was carried out using didecylphatalate as stationary-phase liquid in
column, a solvent of intermediate polarity. If a non-polar solvent such as silicone oil had been used instead,
would the retention time for the compounds be larger or smaller? Why?

11. What would be the effect of the following on the plate height of a column? Briefly explain.
(a) Increasing the weight of the stationary phase relative to the packing weight.
(b) Decreasing the rate of sample injection.
(c) Increasing the injection port temperature.
(d) Increasing the flow rate.
(e) Reducing the particle size of the packing.
(f) Decreasing the column temperature.

12. Why is GSC not used nearly as extensively as GLC?

13. Suggest the order of elution (begin with the first eluted compound) for the following compounds on a polar
column poly(ethylene glycol): propanol, n-pentane, 3-pentanone.

14. In a gas chromatographic analysis, compound Y, was used as the external standard. Injection of 1 µL of the
mixture containing 10 ppm of compound Y and 12 ppm of compound Z gives peak areas of 515 and 748
units, respectively. An injection of 2 µL of an unknown sample that is suspected to contain compounds Y
and Z gives peak areas of 232 and 657 units, respectively. Determine the concentration (ppm) of
compounds Y and Z in the unknown sample.