Sample introduction chromatographic

P. Sandra (Ed.), Sample Introduction in Capillary Gas Chromatography, Vol 1, Chromatographic Method Series, Huethig, Basel, 1985. 

A chromatographic separation occurs if the components of a mixture interact to different extents with the mobile and/or stationary phases and therefore take different times to move from the position of sample introduction to the position at which they are detected. There are two extremes, as follows ... 

Injector A common term for the method of sample introduction into a chromatographic system. 

INTERFACE REQOIREHENTS FOR CHROMATOGRAPHIC SAMPLE INTRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN NASS SPECTRCHtETRY... 

Gas chromatographic analysis starts with introduction of the sample on the column, with or without sample preparation steps. The choice of inlet system will be dictated primarily by the characteristics of the sample after any preparation steps outside the inlet. Clearly, sample preparation has a profound influence on the choice of injection technique. For example, analysts may skip the solvent evaporation step after extraction by eliminating solvent in the inlet with splitless transfer into the column. Sample introduction techniques are essentially of two types conventional and programmed temperature sample introduction. Vogt et al. [89] first described the latter in 1979. Injection of samples, which... 

Principles and Characteristics As mentioned already (Section 3.5.2) solid-phase microextraction involves the use of a micro-fibre which is exposed to the analyte(s) for a prespecified time. GC-MS is an ideal detector after SPME extraction/injection for both qualitative and quantitative analysis. For SPME-GC analysis, the fibre is forced into the chromatography capillary injector, where the entire extraction is desorbed. A high linear flow-rate of the carrier gas along the fibre is essential to ensure complete desorption of the analytes. Because no solvent is injected, and the analytes are rapidly desorbed on to the column, minimum detection limits are improved and resolution is maintained. Online coupling of conventional fibre-based SPME coupled with GC is now becoming routine. Automated SPME takes the sample directly from bottle to gas chromatograph. Split/splitless, on-column and PTV injection are compatible with SPME. SPME can also be used very effectively for sample introduction to fast GC systems, provided that a dedicated injector is used for this purpose [69,70],... 

Of course, to be able to use the direct injection method of sample introduction, the analyte or the polymer system must be soluble in a solvent. Other methods of sample introduction need to be considered in order to eliminate the involatile material from the chromatographic separation. These have become extremely effective in the analysis of matrices such as polymers. 

As SFC provides gaseous sample introduction to the plasma and thus near-100 % analyte transport efficiency, coupling SFC with plasma mass spectrometry offers the potential of a highly sensitive, element-selective chromatographic detector for many elements. Helium high-efficiency microwave-induced plasma has been proposed as an element-selective detector for both pSFC and cSFC [467,468] easy hyphenation of pSFC to AED has been reported [213]. 

The system used by these workers consisted of a Microtek 220 gas chromatograph and a Perkin-Elmer 403 atomic absorption spectrophotometer. These instruments were connected by means of stainless steel tubing (2mm o.d.) connected from the column outlet of the gas chromatograph to the silica furnace of the a.a.s. (Fig. 13.2). A four-way valve was installed between the carrier gas inlet and the column injection port so that a sample trap could be mounted, and the sample could be swept into the gas chromatographic column by the carrier gas. The recorder (lOmV) was equipped with an electronic integrator to measure the peak areas, and was simultaneously actuated with the sample introduction so that the retention time of each component could be used for identification of peaks. 

Note Sample introduction systems such as reservoir inlets, chromatographs, and various types of direct probes (Chap. 5.3) are of equal importance to other ionization methods. The same holds valid for the concepts of sensitivity, detection limit, and signal-to-noise ratio (Chap. 5.2.4) and finally to all sorts of ion chromatograms (Chap. 5.4). 

For the purpose of sample introduction, any sample introduction system (also sample inlet system or inlet) suitable for the respective compound can be employed. Hence, direct probes, reservoir inlets, gas chromatographs and even liquid chromatographs can be attached to an El ion source. Which of these inlet systems is to be preferred depends on the type of sample going to be analyzed. Whatever type the inlet system may be, it has to manage the same basic task, i.e., the transfer of the analyte from atmospheric conditions into the high vacuum of the El ion source Table 5.1 provides an overview. 

Burtiset al, 1987). Current gas chromatographs have the capability of very complex temperature programs that can minimize the time per run and maximize the resolution of the compounds of interest. The minimum and maximum temperatures are usually the only nonvariable parameters. The solvent usually determines the minimum temperature because it must be volatized for sample introduction. The maximum temperature is determined by the stationary phase, because it may break down at high temperatures, which can result in an elevated baseline of the chromatograph. Thus, the manufacturer recommends a maximum temperature to maximize column life and minimize breakdown. 

The system shown in Fig. 4.11 is designed to dehver optimal performance when coupled to sample-preparation, sample-introduction and data-handhng products available. The HP 6890 series GC offers a smooth transition for users of HP 5890 series gas chromatographs through methods compatibihty, extremely useful for modern laboratories whose methodology is costly to develop. 

Because of its capability for rapid multielement analysis, ICP-MS is particularly suited to sample introduction methods which give rise to transient signals. For example, electrothermal vaporization, flow injection and chromatographic methods can be interfaced and many elements monitored in a single run (see Chapter 7). 

Besides liquid samples, gases and solids can be analysed after making the appropriate modifications to the sample introduction system. The application of plasma sources as detectors for gas chromatography of metal complexes have teen reviewed by Uden Literature dealing with the analysis of gas and liquid chromatographic effluents have been surveyed by Carnahan et al. 

The chromatographic process begins by injecting the solute onto the top of the column. The solvent need not be the mobile phase, but frequently it is appropriately chosen to avoid detector interference, column/analyte interference, loss in efficiency, or all of these. Sample introduction can be accomplished in various ways. The simplest method is to use an injection valve. In more sophisticated LC systems, automatic sampling devices are incorporated where sample introduction is done with tire help of autosamplers and microprocessors. It is always best to remove particles from the sample by filtering, or centrifuging since continuous injections of particulate material will eventually cause blockage of injection devices or columns. 

Figure 20.4—Static mode of headspace sample analysis. The sampling phial is pressurised with the carrier gas of the chromatograph. After equilibrium, a small volume of the gas containing the volatile compounds is inserted into a sample loop. Rotation of the six-way valve allows introduction of the sample into the injector of the chromatograph. Consequently, this set-up combines sample preparation with sample introduction into the chromatographic column. (Reproduced by permission of Tekmar.)...

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME). used as a sample introduction technique for high speed gc, utilizes small-diameter fused-silica fibers coated with polymeric stationary phase for sample extraction and concentration. SPME lias been utilized for determination of pollutants in aqueous solution by the adsorption of analyte onto stationary-phase coated fuscd-silica fibers, followed by thermal desorption in the injection system of a capillary gas chromatograph. Full automation can be achieved using an autosampler. 

Splitless injection is used when the sample is dilute and cannot be introduced into the GC system with stream splitting. In practice, the column temperature is set 10° to 30°C below the boiling point of the solvent at the time of injection. When sample is introduced into the injector inlet, vaporized solvent together with the FAME condense at the beginning of the column along with the carrier gas flow. The condensed solvent plus the stationary phase of the column forms a diluted stationary phase that traps the FAME in it. After the initial sample introduction period, the column temperature is raised to normal operating conditions, and chromatographic separation starts from there. 

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