Gas Chromatography (GC) is an analytical tool used to identify and quantitate a wide variety of compounds in a mixture. GC utilizes a compound’s intrinsic affinity for a “stationary phase” (solid support with specialized coating) and facilitates the separation of complex sample matrices into their component parts.

Essentially, in Gas Chromatography, a sample is injected into the hot inlet of a gas chromatogram, which volatilizes the components in the sample. Next, an inert gas (“carrier gas”) carries the volatile compounds through a coated capillary column. The capillary coating or “stationary phase” is housed inside the capillary column. The flame ionization detector (FID) passes sample and “carrier gas” from the column through a hydrogen-air flame. The hydrogen-air flame alone creates few ions, but when an organic compound is burned, there is an increase in ions produced. A polarizing voltage attracts these ions to a collector located near the flame. The current produced is proportional to the amount of sample being burned.