Advanced Analytical Centre Analytical Facilities All Instruments Gas Chromatography-Liquid Chromatography (GC/LC)

Gas Chromatography-Liquid Chromatography (GC/LC)

If you have used this instrument please cite using the following:

Liquid Chromotography

Shimadzu. (2025). Liquid chromatograph (Shimadzu Nexera X2). James Cook University, Advanced Analytical Centre. https://doi.org/10.25903/C76Q-C534

Gas Chromotography

Agilent. (2025). Gas Chromatograph–Mass Spectrometer (Agilent 7890A-5975C). James Cook University, Advanced Analytical Centre. https://doi.org/10.25903/P8K9-ZZ77

Shimadzu. (2025). Gas Chromatograph (Shimadzu, 2010). James Cook University, Advanced Analytical Centre. https://doi.org/10.25903/DACJ-B843

Shimadzu. (2025). Gas Chromatograph (Shimadzu, 2013). James Cook University, Advanced Analytical Centre. https://doi.org/10.25903/4CSB-SX91

Varian. (2025). Gas Chromatograph (Varian CP3800). James Cook University, Advanced Analytical Centre. https://doi.org/10.25903/XK6S-8Y02

About the Technique

Chromatography is the general name given to the methods by which two or more compounds in a mixture are physically separated.  The separation of the individual components results from interactions between the molecules in question, the stationary phase (or the column) and the mobile phase (the liquid or gas flowing through the column).

In liquid chromatography (LC), the flowing or mobile phase is a liquid, whereas in gas chromatography (GC) is a gas.

Once separated the eluted compounds are detected.  Both GC and LC have various methods of detection but one of the most useful is when combined with a mass spectrometer. The mass spectrometer can detect and identify compounds tha have been separated using a database.

Current Instrumentation

Liquid Chromatography

The High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) platform combines two powerful systems:

  • Nexera X2 – an Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) system with dual pumps and a diode array detector.
  • LC-MS 2020 – a mass spectrometer equipped with both an Electrospray Ionisation (ESI) source and an Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionisation (APCI) source, providing flexibility to analyse a wide range of compounds.

The system can be operated as a standalone HPLC for standard chromatographic separations, or integrated with the mass spectrometer for advanced chemical analysis.

Gas Chromatography

Our facility houses four gas chromatography instruments that provide comprehensive analytical capability:

  • Agilent GC-MS 7890A–5975C – equipped with mass spectrometry for high-sensitivity compound identification using Electron Ionisation (EI), and the flexibility to operate with a Flame Ionisation Detector (FID).
  • Shimadzu GC 2010 and Shimadzu GC 2013 – versatile systems suitable for a wide range of applications, offering options for FID, Thermal Conductivity Detection (TCD), and Electron Capture Detection (ECD).
  • Varian GC CP3800 – a robust platform known for its reliability and compatibility with multiple detector configurations.

Together, these instruments allow for precise qualitative and quantitative analysis across diverse sample types, from environmental and geochemical materials to complex chemical mixtures.

Applications

Identification and quantification of compounds in environmental samples (eg pesticides, oils and organic pollutants) and medical applications (eg drugs and bioindicators).

Sample Requirements

  • Compounds of interest must be extracted out of the samples and into solution.

  • Extracted samples must be free from particulates and precipitates.

  • Ideal solvents for GC methods are volatile solvents such as hexane, diethyl ether or dicholromethane.

  • For HPLC methods more polar solvents such as water and water mixtures, methanol and acetonitrile maybe used.

For further information contact Shane Askew