LCGC TV: Analyzing Drugs of Abuse

Gas chromatography (GC) is often regarded as a mature technology and some say that the application base has become routine; however, conventional detectors may not be able to keep up with the speed of separations that can be achieved today. In this new video Kevin Schug from the University of Texas Arlington, USA, talks about the development of a new vacuum ultraviolet (UV) detector, from the initial idea to the fundamentals of its operation.

Comprehensive gas chromatography (GC) is a multidimensional technique that has the potential to increase peak capacity resolution when separating complex mixtures. In this new video from LCGC TV, Luigi Mondello from the University of Messinia, Italy, describes the fundamental principles of 2D GC, and explains the advantages over 1D GC.

Thermal gradient gas chromatography (TGGC) was first developed in the 1960s to reduce the effects of peak broadening. With recent developments in technology, the technique is now being re-examined. In two new videos from LCGC TV, Milton L. Lee from Brigham Young University discusses the principles of TGGC, and the possible advantages of TGGC over traditional GC methods.

Tom Brettell, an associate professor of chemistry at Cedar Crest College, USA, recently conducted a survey of gas chromatography column use in forensic laboratories in the United States. Here is what he found, in terms of the types of columns they are using and the problems they face.

When you are setting up a two-dimensional GC separation (GCxGC), how do you get the optimal combination of columns with the least amount of method development pain? In two new short videos, Nick Snow of Seton Hall offers advice, about column type and column length.

Two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC) started out as a specialized technique reserved for the domain of academic researchers. But the technique, and the instrumentation, have evolved significantly in the past decade. Does it make sense to use GC x GC in routine analysis? Frank Dorman weighs in.