Analytical Chemistry Trinidad & 

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Comparism of HPLC and GC methods

More info:
Practical gas chromatography
GC trouleshooting
HPLC troubleshooing

INSTRUMENT CHOICE

It is important to understand the difference between the separation techniques in order to select the best method to suit your application.
Both GC and HPLC are separation techniques that have applications in which HPLC is best suited for pharmacueticals and polymers, and GC is significant in petroleum and prtrochemicals.
GC for your lab depends on various factors - your spific analytical needs, the types of sample you will be analysizing, and your budget.
General purpose GC - versatile, wide ange of applications.
GC combined techniques - some of the most popular hybrid techniques used in chemistry and biochemistry are GC/MS, LC/MS, GC/IF, and LC/NMR.
You must choose the correct detector to measure your determinations. Learn about the different type of detectors and their analytical properties.LINK HERE
Good detector examples for hydrocarbons and electro-negative compounds are FID and ECD.
High sensitivity analysis - MS hybrid types
Low ensitivity analysis - TCD
Qualitative and quantitative GC analyses - GC hybrid deector systems or FID.
HPLC deectors - Generate signals proportional to sample mixture as it emerges from column.
The UV UV-VIS detecor is the most widely used in HPLC. It is highly sensitive to light absorbing molecules up to picogram levels.
Fixed wavelength - operate at 254nm
Variable wavelength - sample absorption ar multiple wavelengths.
Photo diode array detector - PDA - record absorbance in a single wavelength or in a wavelengh range.
In addition, consideration must be given to the following :
Mobile phase
Column packing
Column size
Nature of compounds
Operating Temperature
You can obtain information on these factors from manufacturers and suppliers.
Seek feedback and technical support from potential suppliers and receive recomendations, technical literature; and user manuals on the instrument you prefer to use.
Some good brand name instrument makers are :
Agilent technologies
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Shedmadzu
Perkin Elmer
Bruker

A summary of the methods of HPLC and GC is given in the table below.

Difference Liquid chromatography Gas chromatography
METHOD
Difference PUMP Gas flow
Mobile phase Liquid-solvent resevoir Gas N2 or Helium
Separation Polar Volatile
Compound type Soluble - volatile/non volatile Volatile
Temperature Room temp. 20-25 degrees C HIgh temp. 150 - 350 degrees C
Speed Slow Faster
Resolution Low for polarity Low for molecular weights
EQUIPMENT
Column length Short and wide Long and thin
Solvent Polar Volatizable
Detection non destructive Destructive
Cost High Lower
APPLICATIONS inorganic ions,polymers,vitamins,poteins,lipids,sugars,tetra cyclines,peptides,insecticides plant pigments,faty acids,drugs,oils,pesticides,toxns,air samples
DETECTORS
Detection Fluorescence,Chiral detector,conductivity monotor,RID FID,UV_VIS,Diode array,TCD,Thermal ion detctor,Fpp,MS



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