Injector, grob-type splitless

Figure 5 compares chromatograms of A8- and A9-THC-TMS and 11-hydroxy-A8-THC-TMS obtained on a glass capillary column and a 6ft. x 2mm I.D. packed column. The retention times of the cannabinoids are comparable, but the resolution and sensitivity achieved on the capillary column is far superior. The capacity of the capillary column is of course far less than that of the packed column. Nevertheless, by using a Grob-type splitless injector (7) we are able to inject several microliters of solution containing up to 50 ng of each cannabinoid without overloading the column. Use of a support-coated open tubular column should increase the column capacity, but at some sacrifice of resolution and sensitivity. 

Numerous types of GC injectors have been manufactured over the past four decades. The most commonly used injection techniques have been reviewed and described by Grob, who correctly states that analysts must fully understand the techniques before they can make the most appropriate choice for their particular application(s). For most GC capillary column applications, the split/splitless, programmed-temperature vaporization (PTV) and on-column injectors remain the most popular. However, over the last few years, technology has progressed rapidly to provide injectors that allow more of the sample extract on to the GC column without overloading it. 

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