Gas liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (GLC-MS) is an analytical technique that combines two powerful methods, gas liquid chromatography (GLC) and mass spectrometry (MS), to separate, identify, and quantify target compounds in a sample.
Gas liquid chromatography (GLC) is a separation technique in which a gaseous mobile phase (carrier gas) is passed through a liquid stationary phase inside a column. The mixture to be analyzed, called the sample, is injected into the column, and its compounds are separated based on their affinities for the stationary phase. This separation occurs due to differences in volatility and polarity among the sample components, allowing the compounds to be eluted at different times.
Mass spectrometry (MS) is a technique used to determine the molecular weight and structural information of compounds in a sample. It involves the ionization of sample molecules, followed by the separation and detection of the resulting ions based on their mass-to-charge ratios. MS provides highly accurate and precise measurements, allowing for the identification and quantitation of compounds in complex mixtures.
GLC-MS combines the separation capabilities of GLC with the sensitivity and selectivity of MS. The effluent from the GLC column is introduced into the mass spectrometer, where the separated compounds are ionized and analyzed based on their mass spectrum. This technique allows for the identification of individual compounds in a complex mixture and the measurement of their concentrations.
GLC-MS is widely used in many fields, including environmental analysis, forensics, pharmaceuticals, and chemical research, due to its high sensitivity, selectivity, and versatility. It provides detailed information about the composition of complex samples and is an invaluable tool for qualitative and quantitative analysis in modern analytical chemistry.
