GC-MS combines gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to separate and identify components in a mixture. In GC-MS, the sample is vaporized and carried by a gas through a column where components separate based on interaction with the stationary phase. The separated components then enter the mass spectrometer where they are ionized by electrons and broken into fragments. The mass analyzer separates the fragments by mass and charge, and the detector produces a mass spectrum that can identify molecules based on their fragmentation pattern. GC-MS is used in applications like petrochemical analysis, environmental analysis, forensics, pharmaceutical analysis, and clinical toxicology due to its ability to analyze small sample sizes and identify unknown chemical structures.
4. ? GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass
Spectrometry)
? Combination of Gas Chromatography
& Mass Spectrometry
? Separation technique of components
from mixture with the help of gas as a
mobile phase + Determination of
structure
5. Electron Ionization +
Mass Analyzer +
Detector
Mass Spectrometry
Sample Injector +
Column
Gas Chromatography
7. Working Principle
? With the help of controller pressure is induced due to which helium gas flows
which acts as a mobile phase it carries the sample in the stationary phase.
? In this process the more volatile compound will move faster as compared to
the less volatile compound.
? After the separation of the more volatile compound it will go to MS where it will
produce ions.
? Due to the production of ions it will show movement and get separated.
? After the separation the structure of the ion is determined.
10. Parts of Instrument
? A sample port or injector for introduction and vaporization of the sample;
? A separating column, consisting of metal tubing packed with a solid material
coated with a stationary absorbing liquid;
? A carrier gas, usually N2 or He, to sweep the sample through the column;
? Flow control equipment to maintain a constant flow of carrier gas through the
column;
? The detector for measuring the quantity of a separated component;
? Ovens and heaters for temperature control of the column, detector, and injector;
? An integrator or integrator/strip chart recorder combination to provide a
permanent record of the analysis.
11. Procedure
? The Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) instrument separates
chemical mixtures (the GC component) and identifies the components at a molecular
level (the MS component).
? The GC works on the principle that a mixture will separate into individual substances
when heated.
? The sample is injected into the GC inlet where it is vaporized and swept into a
chromatographic column by the carrier gas (helium).
? The sample flows through the column and the compounds comprising the mixture of
interest are separated by virtue of their relative interaction with the coating of the
column (stationary phase) and the carrier gas (mobile phase).
12. Procedure
? The latter part of the column passes through a heated transfer line and ends at the
entrance to ion source where compounds eluting from the column are converted to
ions.
? A beam of electrons ionize the sample molecules resulting in the formation of
molecular ion and smaller ions with characteristic relative abundances that provide a
¡®fingerprint¡¯ for that molecular structure.
? The mass analyzer separates the ions and is then detected.
17. Very small sample sizes are
required for testing
Samples can be either a
liquid, gas, or solid that can
be outgassed
With this highly refined process,
GC/MS analysis can be
completed in as little as one
hour
The samples must have a
size of several microliters for
gas or liquid, and .5 ¨C 1 gram
for solids