Practical Essentials of GC columns, detector and mass spectrometers
- Duration: 1 day for live courses 6.50 hours for on-demand
- Experience level: Intermediate
- Delivery methods: Face-to-face | Offsite training & consultancy | On-Demand | Online | Onsite training & consultancy | Tailored training |
- Type of course: Universal
- Applicable to manufacturer(s): Agilent | Bruker | CDS Analytical | CTC analytics | Frontier | GERSTEL | GL Sciences | Leco | OI Analytical | PerkinElmer | Scion | Shimadzu | SRI | Thermo | Varian | Waters |
- CPD Approved: Approved
- Scheduled course price: £425.00 + TAX per delegate
- Course discounts: RSC CAMS HEaTED Cambridge Network members receive a discount on this course
Your essential guide to gas chromatography (GC) columns, GC detectors and mass spectrometers (MS)
Day 2 and Modules 4, 5 and 6 of the Complete GC & GC-MS and the Practical Essentials of GC & GC-MS course.
Practical Essentials of GC columns, detectors and mass spectrometers is approved by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) for the purposes of Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and is a classroom-based course that takes an in-depth approach to looking at different types of GC columns and stationary phases alongside the interactions associated with them. Explore GC detectors including the various types available and how they operate. Then finally study mass spectrometers in GC, covering ionisation principles and the applications of GC-MS for quantitative and qualitative analysis. Designed for professionals, students and chemists wanting to take the next step to enhancing their GC and GC-MS knowledge.
This day and modules can be combined with any of the other twelve modules and days in the Complete GC and GC-MS to tailor your training needs.
Why should I join?
On completion of day 2 training, you will gain understanding of the fundamentals of columns, detectors and mass spectrometers associated with GC and GC-MS, giving you:
- A clear overview of GC column types, detectors and mass spectrometers
- Explanations of the stationary phases, detector types and the role of mass spectrometry in GC
- Guidance on choosing the right columns and detectors
- How to choose between universal and selective detectors based on your applications
- Insight into common ionisation techniques including electron ionisation (EI), positive chemical ionisation (PCI), negative chemical ionisation (NCI), photoionisation (PI), and field ionisation (FI)
- An excellent progression to other modules and days in our Complete GC and GC-MS training
- A great refresher if you have not worked with GC or GC-MS for a while
What would I learn?
This day focuses on explaining GC columns, detectors and mass spectrometers, you will learn:
- The principles and theory behind analytical columns, detectors and mass spectrometers in GC
- Be able to explain resolution, selectivity and retention in GC separation
- Learn what the various column types and configurations are for GC analyses
- How detector selectivity can improve identification and reduce matrix interferences
- How choices of detectors can impact quantitation, sensitivity and analyte identification
- How mass spectra are generated and how they can be used as molecular fingerprints for compound identification
- The operation of quadrupole, ion trap, Time of Flight (ToF), Orbitrap™, magnetic sector, and tandem mass spectrometers
What knowledge will I gain?
By the end of the day, you will:
- Compare column types and configurations for various analytical challenges
- Understand band broadening, peak tailing and fronting, and how they can be minimised
- Understand how detector conditions (flows, gases, temperature) affect performance
- Learn how to optimise detectors for better sensitivity, stability, and reproducibility
- Be familiar with advanced and hyphenated techniques (e.g. GC-MS, GC-IRD, GC-VUV)
- Know how to select the most appropriate ionisation method and mass analyser for specific applications
- Be familiar with high-resolution mass spectrometry and its application in molecular formula determination and complex sample analysis
- Understand how SIM, scan, SRM, and MRM acquisition modes affect sensitivity and selectivity
Is this course for me?
This day is designed for anyone who would like to learn and know more about GC columns, detectors and mass spectrometers:
- Laboratory analysts & technicians using GC and GC-MS
- Laboratory or line managers overseeing GC and GC-MS instruments and analysis
- Data analysts and report writers who work with GC and GC-MS data
- Service engineers who want a chemistry focused introduction
- Sales, commercial or marketing teams who work with GC and GC-MS components, instruments, services or personnel in any way and would like more knowledge
If GC or GC-MS touches your work in any way, this well-planned module, delivered by experts in the field, equips you to understand the science behind these analytical chemistry techniques.
