Gas Chromatography

Invention of Chromatography
Mikhail Tswett invented
chromatography in 1901
during his research on
plant pigments.
He used the technique to
separate various plant
pigments such as
chlorophylls, xanthophylls
and carotenoids. Mikhail Tswett
Russian Botanist
(1872-1919)
 Original Chromatography Experiment
Start: A glass End: A series of
column is filled colored bands is
with powdered seen to form,
limestone corresponding to
(CaCO3). the different
An EtOH extract Later pigments in the
of leaf pigments original plant
is applied to the extract. These
top of the column. bands were later
determined to be
EtOH is used to
chlorophylls,
flush the pigments
xanthophylls and
down the column.
carotenoids.
Chromatography: (Greek = chroma “color” and
graphein “writing” ) Tswett named this new technique
chromatography based on the fact that it separated the
components of a solution by color.
Common Types of Chromatography
Tswett’s technique is based on Liquid Chromatography.
There are now several common chromatographic
methods. These include:
Paper Chromatography
Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)
Liquid Chromatography (LC)
High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
Ion Chromatography
Gas Chromatography (GC)
Paper and Thin Layer Chromatography
The solvent moves up paper by capillary action,
carrying mixture components at different rates.

solvent
front

Later

solvent
 How Does Chromatography Work?
In all chromatographic separations, the sample is transported
in a mobile phase. The mobile phase can be a gas, a liquid,
or a supercritical fluid.
The mobile phase is then forced through a stationary phase
held in a column or on a solid surface. The stationary phase
needs to be something that does not react with the mobile
phase or the sample.
The sample then has the opportunity to interact with the
stationary phase as it moves past it. Samples that interact
greatly, then appear to move more slowly. Samples that
interact weakly, then appear to move more quickly. Because
of this difference in rates, the samples can then be separated
into their components.
Chromatography is based on a physical equilibrium
that results when a solute is transferred between the
mobile and a stationary phase.
K = distribution
A coefficient or
A A partition ratio
A A
CS
A A K 
A CM
A Where CS is the molar
A
A concentration of the
A
solute in the stationary
Cross Section of Equilibrium in a column. phase and CM is the
“A” are adsorbed to the stationary phase. molar concentration in
“A” are traveling in the mobile phase. the mobile phase.
 In a chromatography column, flowing gas or liquid
continuously replaces saturated mobile phase and results
in movement of A through the column.

Flow

Column is packed
with particulate
stationary phase.

As a material travels through the column, it assumes a

Gaussian concentration profile as it distributes between the
stationary packing phase and the flowing mobile gas or
liquid carrier phase.
In a mixture, each component has a different distribution coefficient,
and thus spends a different amount of time absorbed on the solid
packing phase vs being carried along with the flowing gas

Flow

Flow

Flow

Flow

More volatile materials are carried through the column more rapidly
than less volatile materials, which results in a separation.
If a detector is used to determine when the components elute
from the column, a series of Gaussian peaks are obtained,
one for each component in the mixture that was separated
by the column.

Note: The first two components were not completely separated.

Peaks in general tend to become shorter and wider with time.
 The Theoretical Plate
Theoretical plate is a term coined by Martin &
Synge. It is based on a study in which they imagined that
chromatographic columns were analogous to distillation
columns and made up or numerous discrete but connected
narrow layers or plates. Movement of the solute down the
column then could be treated as a stepwise transfer.

Theoretical plates (N) measure how efficiently a

column can separate a mixture into its components.
This efficiency is based on the retention time of the
components and the width of the peaks.
N = Number of theoretical plates (a measure of efficiency)
tR 2
N  16( )
wb
tR

wb

tR is the retention time; it is measured from the injection peak

(or zero) to the intersection of the tangents.
wb is the width of the base of the triangle; it is measured
at the intersection of the tangents with the baseline.
 tR 2
N  16( )
wb
tR
tR

wb wb
Larger N Smaller N

When the retention time, tR, is held constant, the column that produces
peaks with narrower bases, wb, will be more efficient – have a greater
N value.
Likewise a column that produces wider peaks will be less efficient –
have a smaller N value.
This is because a smaller denominator, wb, will yield a larger overall
number and a larger denominator will yield a smaller number.
 Gas Chromatography
 Good for volatile samples (up to about 250 oC)
 0.1-1.0 microliter of liquid or 1-10 ml vapor
 Can detect <1 ppm with certain detectors
 Can be easily automated for injection and data analysis
Components of a Gas Chromatograph
Gas Supply: (usually N2 or He)
Sample Injector: (syringe / septum)
Column: 1/8” or 1/4” x 6-50’ tubing packed with
small uniform size, inert support coated with
thin film of nonvolatile liquid
Detector: TC - thermal conductivity
FID - flame ionization detector
Schematic of a Commercial Gas Chromatograph
 HP 5890 Capillary Gas Chromatograph
with Robotic Sample Injector and Data Station
 Our GC System
(Limited to volatile chlorine containing organic compounds.)

Gas Supply: propane line gas

Injector: 0.3 ml of vapor through latex tubing
Column: 5 ml pipet filled with Tide detergent
Detector: based on Beilstein reaction of chlorinated
hydrocarbons with hot Cu metal to give bright
blue/green flame coloration.
 GC Construction
TOP
Ring Stand
CdS Photocell mounted in
Clamps Straw/Stopper bracket

5ml pipet
Packed with Tide Attach leads to computer

1 ml Syringe Black paper

cylinder

SIDE
Buret Valve
Latex coupling Align photocell with
midpt. of flame
Cu coil
Gas inlet Fiber plugs
 Wrapping the detector coil
(Detail of Cu coil winding.)
*Do not leave
Pipet any gaps
between turns.

1. Hold here with thumb while winding 18-20

turns around the pipet.
Do NOT use the Coil Adjusting Tool for this step.
2. Bend so mounting post is centered in coil
using the Coil Adjusting Tool**

Side View End View

Do NOT try to adjust coil in pipet tip!

**Coil Adjusting Tools are located in the Hood.

(Please return them to the Hood as soon as your are finished with them.)
 Filling the Column
1. Add about 1 tsp of dry/sifted Tide
to fill pipet within 1/4” of top
(Tide has been sifted and dried,
so keep lid closed on container.)
2. Tap column with a pencil
to settle the powder.

3. Use a plug of fiberfill

to hold Tide in place
*Do not compact Tide into column.
**Do not leave any dead space at head of column.
 Burner Adjustment Parameters

Adjustment of height
above pipet tip will
affect the fuel / air ratio.
Length of coil will affect
flame stability.

For best results, flame should be 1/4” - 3/8” high,

non-luminous (blue), and non-flickering.
 Detail of Sensor (CdS Photoresistor)

Check that leads

are not shorted face of sensor should
inside straw. be 1/8” back from
end of straw
foam plug
Straw covered
with electrical tape

Note: The sensor should be tested by connecting to

computer and checking voltage in light and with sensor
face covered with your finger.
 Sensor Alignment
Top View
Flame Shield

Sensor/Stopper

Column Flame

1. Remove sensor from stopper and sight through tube.

2. Adjust clamp so that base of flame can be seen.
3. Carefully replace sensor in tube.
 Sensor Response Curve
1.1 M Ω
(dark)

R (Ω)

350 Ω
(bright)
Brightness

The sensor has the largest change in resistance in the low

light region. (Blue flame is best.)
Too much light will ‘saturate’ the sensor.
Place wire gauze on top of flame shield to block room
light and drafts.
 Sample Injection
1. Fill sample vapor only in syringe (NOT liquid!).
2. Overfill syringe then adjust to desired amount.
3. Do not let the sample remain in the syringe long before
injecting to avoid vapor loss into the rubber plunger of
the syringe.
4. Rotate the syringe when piercing the latex tubing to avoid
a pressure surge which may blow out the flame.
5. Inject as close as possible to the column head.
6. Push the plunger fairly rapidly during injection.
7. Chloroform (CHCl3 ) may require a larger amount
than suggested to get adequate sensor response
 General Settings for GC Startup program

Y axis: 1-5 v (0-1 volt is in bright light, 4-5 volt is dark)

X axis: 0-400 seconds
 Plot of GC Elution Data for
Dichloromethane and Chloroform
On 25 cm Tide Column

Good: Peaks are smooth, well separated and elute quickly

 Plot of GC Elution Data for
Dichloromethane and Chloroform
On 25 cm Tide Column

Poor: peaks are noisy, due to flickering flame, and elute slowly.
To fix: Adjust sensor so that it is looking at the blue portion
of the flame. (Verify the flame is blue.)
 Printing Elution Curves

From File menu in GC program choose Export Data A

1. Give the file a name.
2. Choose text option.
3. Save to desktop.
4. Send it to your email accounts* via minermail
using web.
* Don’t forget to cc Dr. Bolon [email protected]
5. Open file, highlight text, copy and paste to your
favorite graphing program (e.g. Excel).
 Determination of the Amount
of Sample Components Present
The peak height is proportional to the amount
of material eluting from the column at any given time,

The area under the peak is a measure of the total

amount of material that has eluted from the column.
Electronic integrators are used for area measurement
in commercial GCs. We will be using ALGEBRA. 
 The Gaussian curve can be approximated as triangular
in shape, to simplify area measurement.

Area = 1/2 wb h

wb

NOTE: the height is measured to the top of the tangents,

which is above the actual curve peak.
 If voltage data is very noisy, resulting in poor peak shape,
some peak parameters may be estimated from visual
observations, however areas cannot be calculated. So have
the TA verify your data before you take apart your GC.

retention time

peak
width

Blue Flame Green Flame Blue Flame

onset of green end of green

 Experiments
1. Test run of CH2Cl2 without sensor check for visible
color, reasonable width and retention time on column.
2. Run of Pure Compounds: (1 good run of each)
CH2Cl2 (Dichloromethane aka Methylene Chloride)
CHCl3 (Chloroform)
3. Mixture: CH2Cl2:CHCl3 (2:3 mix)

Collect voltage vs time data and also note visual onset

and disappearance of green flame color.
 Data and Calculations
(There is a separate handout available with this information.)

A. Graphs (3) from computer

1. Elution data for pure CH2Cl2
2. Elution data for pure CHCl3
3. Elution data for mixture

B. Calculations (handwritten, for each graph)

1. Peak Area = 1/2 (W x H)
2. Number of theoretical plates, N = 16 (TR / Wb)2
Checkout
1-pipet (5 ml graduated, for GC column)
1-flow regulator (buret valve)
1-clothespin
1-pair forceps
1-1cc syringe
1-flame shield (black construction paper cylinder)
1-sensor/stopper
1-coil adjusting tool
1-pc Cu wire (discard after use)
In Hoods:
Tide (Replace lid to prevent moisture absorption)
teaspoons
plastic funnels
fiberfill (looks like cotton)
CH2Cl2 - dichloromethane or methylene chloride
(clear septum vial)
CHCl3 - chloroform
(brown septum vial)

Notes:
Work in groups of four. 
Hazards
Needles are sharp.
Detector coil is hot.
Carrier gas is flammable.
CH2Cl2 and CHCl3 are toxic.
Waste
Empty Tide from columns into solid waste.
Do NOT use water to clean column.
Stockroom will clean stuck columns.
This Week
Review Session – November 29, 8:30-10:00pm in G3.
Next Week (December 3-6)
*Final Exam – 1-2 Hour Exam during regularly
scheduled class time. You will need a calculator.
**Checkout after exam. $35 fine for not checking out.
(This means NO Chem 2 Final during Finals Week.)