Chromatography

During his research on plant

pigments at the University of

Warsaw (Poland) , Mikhail Tsvet

developed the chromatography

technique. He put together the rst

chromatography column.

Mass Spectrometer

J.J. Thomson developed the rst Mass

Spectrometer (MS) during his research on

Neon isotope separation at the University

of Cambridge.

Gas Chromatography

Archer Martin from Wool Industries Research

Institution in Leeds along with his colleague Richard

Fringe received the Nobel Price in 1952 for their

invention of partition chromatography leading to gas

chromatography.

GC-MS

Although the rst GCMS was reported in

1959, the rst commercialized product was

brought to market by Robert Finnigan at

Electronic Associates in Palo Alto, CA

following his work at Stanford Research

Institute (SRI).

1912

1948

1964

1903

1970-

2010

Trace level organic molecules detection for quality control of

consumer products. Detection of hazardous materials like phenols (BPA),

or for routine process monitoring such as fatty acid content in food.

Environmental monitoring for chemical waste treatment. Easily detects

organic solvents and alcohols to control the efficiency of the cleaning

procedures.

Isolation and purification for new material development. Commonly

used for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to monitor

stability of drug delivery methods.

Carrier gas

(typically He)

flows into

the column oven

Sample is injected

and mixes with

the carrier gas in

the column oven

Compounds are

separated by

stationary phase

Compounds

are positively

ionized by

electron beam

Cations are

accelerated by

the electric field

Accelerated

cations are

deflected by the

magnetic field

based on (m/z)

Peak positions

identifies

compound / Intensity

determines

quantity

Consult with

Our Technologists

Provide Your

Samples

Debrief with

Our Technologists

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Report

STEP

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CUSTOMER SERVICE WORKFLOW

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APPLICATIONS

Strong Method Development Experience

Maximize the value of information learned per sample run

Leading Edge Technologies

Highest quality equipment (Agilent 6500) and data reports

Complimentary Consultation

For project scoping and post-report discussion

Streamline R&D Services

Single point of contact for all services

Quality Assurance Program

Free remeasurement if not satisfied

QAP

WHY CHOOSE OUTERMOST TECHNOLOGY FOR GC-MS?

Ref: Kumar, Dipesh & Singh, Bhaskar & Bauddh, Kuldeep & Korstad, John. (2015). Title: Bio-oil and biodiesel as biofuels derived from microalgal oil and their characterization by using instrumental techniques.

GC-MS is the combination of two techniques: Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry.

Gas Chromatography (GC):

Chromatography, from the Greek khrōma "color" and graphia "description of", is a technique used

to separate chemicals initially mixed together. It uses the property that these chemicals

(mobile phase) have to move through another substance (stationary phase) at different speeds.

A simple way to understand chromatography is to imagine how the ink moves away on a wet paper.

In the case of GC, the mobile phase is a gas and the stationary phase can be either a solid or

a liquid. Carrier gas and the sample to be analyzed, are heated under controlled temperature

and gas environment (Column Oven). Once the chemicals are separated by the GC they need

to be quantified. Therefore GC is coupled with a detector such as Flame Ionization, Electron-

Capture or Mass Spectrometer.

Mass Spectrometer (MS):

MS is a technique used to identify and quantify compounds. In addition, it can also provide

information about the structure and the chemical properties of molecules.Within the equipment

a magnetic field separate by deflection positive ions (cations) based on their mass to charge ratio

(m/z). The higher the m/z, the less deflected the cations will be. When the deflected cation hits

the detector, it creates an electric current. The location on the detector is characteristic of the

compound. The intensity of the current generated at this specific location is proportional to the

quantity of that compound hitting the detector.

3 4

GCMS technology kept improving

over the years with the

development of quadripole, Time of

Flight (ToF) and ion traps GCMS.

Orbitrap GC is the most recent

addition to GC-MS techniques.

Latest Additions

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS):

Carrier

Gas

Cylinder

Pressure & Flow

Regulator

Injection

Port

Retention

Time Graph

Electron

Beam

Concentrated

+ve Ion Beam

Deflection

Based on m/z

Mass Spectrum

GC Column in

Thermostatic Oven

Detector

GC Output

+ve Plate

Mass to Charge Ratio (m/z)

Intensity

Magnetic

Field

Magnetic

Field

20 40 60 80 100 120

100

Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry