Abstract

A REVIEW OF GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY

Rajaram R. Rajbhar*, Ms. Sarita Sharma, Dr. Gaurav Kumar Sharma and Dr. Kaushal Kishore Chandrul

ABSTRACT

Gas chromatography differs from other forms of chromatography in that the mobile phase is a gas and the components are separated as vapours. It is thus used to separate and detect small molecular weight compounds in the gas phase. The sample is either a gas or a liquid that is vaporized in the injection port. The mobile phase for gas chromatography is a carrier gas, typically helium because of its low molecular weight and being chemically inert. The pressure is applied and the mobile phase moves the analyte through the column. The separation is accomplished using a column coated with a stationary phase. Gas chromatography (GC), along with other chromatographic techniques, is vitally important in forensic science to separate substances of analytical interest. GC is the primary technique for the analysis of fire residues. Petroleum product are important for accelerants in fires and the peak patterns from the Gas Chromatography analysis can be used to identify the type of product (e.g., gasoline) that was employed in the fire. The earliest uses of GC in forensic science were in drug analysis. All sorts of ‘street’ drugs can be separated and quantified by GC.

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