Automated Liner Exchange for GC Injectors – New Concepts for Handling Dirty Samples

Abstract

Tech Note 1/2004

Sample clean-up steps, which are needed in order to prepare for example environmental or food samples for pesticide analysis, are time-consuming and a potential source of errors. Simplification or elimination of such procedures is often the motivation behind the development of new analytical methods and new instrumentation. Unfortunately, analytical instruments normally do not tolerate introduction of “dirty” samples or even “dirty” extracts. For example, extracts containing suspended matter or high molecular weight compounds contaminate a GC inlet within a few injections, causing peak broadening or even loss of sensitive compounds. Reducing or eliminating clean-up steps will result in “dirty” extracts and daily – or even hourly – maintenance of the GC system.