Chromatographic fingerprinting analysis method

Furthermore, as a fuel evaporates or biodegrades, its pattern can change so radically that identification becomes difficult. Consequently, a gas chromatographic fingerprint is not a conclusive diagnostic tool. The methods used for total petroleum hydrocarbon analysis must stress calibration and quality control, whereas pattern recognition methods stress detail and comparability. 

Van Vendeloo et al. developed a gas chromatographic method for fingerprint analysis of illicit heroin samples, capable of detecting the main components acetyl codeine, caffeine, codeine, heroin, 6-0-monoacetylmorphine, morphine and quinine in one run in 25 min. Heroin, morphine, codeine and caffeine could be quantified directly, 6-0-monoacetylmorphine and acetylcodeine were not fully separated. Quantitation of the latter two required acetylation of 6-0-monoacetylmorphine to heroin. A packed column of 1 % OV-1 on Chromosorb G HP was used... 

The first Guidelines for the assessment of herbal medicines were published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1991, handing down the basic principles for the analysis of plant preparations (herbal drug preparations, HDPs) and the finished products prepared from these (HMPs) A method for identification and, where possible, quantification of the plant material in the finished product should be defined. If the identification of an active principle is not possible, it should be sufficient to identify a characteristic substance or mixture of substances (e.g., chromatographic fingerprint ) to ensure consistent quality of the preparation. ... 

Su X, Kong L, Lei X, Hu L, Ye M, Zou H. Biological fingerprinting analysis of traditional Chinese medicines with targeting ADME/Tox property for screening of bioactive compounds by chromatographic and MS methods. Mini Rev Med Chem 2007 7 87-98. 

Such mild degradative reactions are usually not successful with synthetic polymers and are completely inapplicable for carbon chains. When synthetic polymers are pyrolyzed under controlled conditions, a gas-chromatographic analysis of the degradation products provides a kind of fingerprint for the composition and sequence of the polymer in question. Since the method is rapid but not absolute, it is preferentially used for industrial quality control. 

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