System for sample introduction in gas chromatography

Abstract

Introduction: Gas chromatography is an instrumental method of analysis, allowing the preliminary sepa-ration of complex mixtures of substances and their subsequent qualitative and quantitative determination. Aim: Presentation of the main types of devices for introducing samples in gas chromatography and their manner of operation. Materials and Methods: Survey of the available literature on the topic. Discussion: In gas chromatography the mobile phase is inert gas, called carrier gas. It carries the analyzed sample by the system for sample introduction (injector, sample inlets) and moves it through the chromatography column, in which the separation occurs, to a detector which registers the eluted compounds, leaving the column in the form of pure substances. In chromatographic system the injector is designed to provide accurate and reproducible introduction of certain volume from the analyzed sample. For the introduction of gas, liquid and solid samples in gas chromatography are used different types of injectors, tailored for the existing variety of columns and com-pounds for analysis. The introduction of the sample is essential for the successful implementation of gas-chromatographic analysis and significantly influences the results that are received. Therefore, the system for sample introduction must ensure rapid introduction of metered quantity without the occurrence of effects of discrimination (introducing only a portion of the sample). Conclusion: The system for sample introduction in gas-chromatographic analysis is an essential part of the overall chromatographic system and a factor influencing the quality of the analysis.