Gas Chromatography
A technique for separating volatile compounds carried by an inert gas through a heated column.
Unit
min
In depth
Separation depends on both volatility and interaction with the stationary phase, and each component emerges at a characteristic retention time. Capillary columns tens of metres long give extremely high resolution, but the technique is limited to compounds that are volatile and thermally stable.
Examples in the real world
Measuring blood alcohol; analysing flavour compounds; detecting explosive residues in forensic work.