Analytical Techniques: Chromatography

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Author: Jessica Ford

Editors: Anne Schaffer, Kari Rayner

Chromatography is a technique that physically separates components of a sample through either volatilization (gas chromatography) or solubilization (liquid chromatography), then conveys each component into a mass spectrometer at different speeds characteristic of their molecular structure. This technique yields precise identification of organic compounds and is capable of distinguishing between similar materials with a great deal of specificity; for example, chromatography can identify the specific type(s) of oil or resin present in a sample. The different chromatography systems have different specialties: high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with mass spectrometry is especially useful for identification of organic dyes such as lake pigments. Pyrolysis gas chromatography with mass spectroscopy (Py-GCMS) is most useful for identification of synthetic materials such as plastics, epoxies, and other polymeric materials. A non-reusable sample is required for all of these chromatographic techniques. (Mills and White 1999)

References

Mills, J. S., and R. White. 1999. The organic chemistry of museum objects. 2nd ed. Routledge.