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International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering Technology and Science
( Peer-Reviewed, Open Access, Fully Refereed International Journal )
Volume:04/Issue:12/December-2022 Impact Factor- 6.752 www.irjmets.com
distribution coefficient value. This process continues and band for each component moves further in the
column attaining the shape of Gaussian distribution.9
1) Carrier gas
Hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, and air are the most widely used carrier gases. Hydrogen in comparison to other
gases is more advantageous and also dangerous to use. Helium is the next best gas, and is used because of its
exceptional thermal conductivity, inertness, low density, and greater flow rates; but it is expensive. Nitrogen is
inexpensive but reduces sensitivity. Air is used only when the atmospheric oxygen is useful to the detector or
separation.
The following considerations should be kept in mind while selecting a carrier gas:
1) It should be inert, i.e. it should not react with the sample, stationary phase, or contacted hardware.
2) It should be suitable for the detector used and the type of sample being analysed.
3) It should be available in high purity. It should give best column performance reliable with required speed of
analysis.
5) It should not be expensive.
6) It should not cause any fire or explosion hazard.
Flow Controllers
A constant pressure applied to a column does not ensure a constant flow of mobile phase though the
chromatographic system, particularly if the column is being temperature programmed. Raising the temperature
of a gas causes the viscosity to increase, and at constant inlet pressure, the flow rate will fall. The reduction in
flow rate will be related to the temperature program limits and to a certain extent on the temperature gradient.
To obviate the flow rate change, mass controllers are used which ensure a constant mass of mobile passes
through the column in unit time irrespective of the system temperature.
2) Injection Devices
In gas chromatography two basic types of sampling system are used, those suitable for packed columns and
those designed for open tubular columns. In addition, different sample injectors are necessary that will be
appropriate for alternative column configurations. It must be stressed, however, that irrespective of the design
of the associated equipment, the precision and accuracy of a GC analysis will only be as good as that provided
by the sample injector. The sample injector is a very critical part of the chromatographic equipment and needs
to be well designed and well maintained.
A) spilt injections: It splits the volume of sample stream into two unequal flows by mean of a needle valve, and
allow the smaller flow to pass on the Columns & bigger past is allowed to be vented to the atmosphere. This
technique is not suitable when highest sensitivity is required.
B) Spitless injectors: They allow all of the sample to pass through the Column for loading. Sample should be
very dilute to avoid overland of the Column and a high capacity Column such as SCOT or heavily coated WCOT
columns should be used
C) On Column injectors: A syringe with a very fine quartz needle is used. A cooled to 20 degree Celsius b.p. of
the Sample after then the warmer air is circulated to vaporized sample.
D) Automatic injectors: For improving the reproducibility and if a large number of Samples are to be analyzed
operation is required without an attendant, automatic injectors are used.The solid samples are introduced as a
solution or in a sealed glass ampoule, crushed in the gas steam with the help of gas tight plunger, and the
sample gets vapourized and flows into column under the influence of Carrier gas. 9
3) Separation of column
The columns used are made of glass or metal tubing, and have a diameter of 4.8mm. They may be of any length
ranging from a few centimetres to a hundred meters. They may be coiled, bent, or straight.
The following six types of analytical columns are used in gas chromatography:
1) Packed Columns: These columns are prepared by packing metal or glass tubing with granular stationary
phase. In gas liquid chromatography, the packing is prepared by coating a size graded inert solid support with
the liquid phase.
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