Gas-chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS)

Gas chromatography is an analytical and separation technique in which complex mixtures of compounds are injected into a chromatographic column and separated according to their relative boiling points and affinity for the column.

The high temperatures used in gas chromatography make it unsuitable for high-molecular-weight compounds (such as proteins), as the heat causes them to denature. It is well suited for use in the petrochemical industry, environmental monitoring and remediation, and industrial chemistry. Samples may be solid, liquid or gaseous.

Following separation, the compounds can be analysed using mass spectrometry techniques, such as ICP-MS, for identification, or ionised by EI or CI and analysed in a ToF mass analyser. Recent literature has reviewed advances in the field of GC-MS.