COURSE OVERVIEW
Who is this course for?
Users of GC-MS equipment, or anyone interested in learning the analytical capabilities afforded by this type of instruments.
Previous Knowledge
No previous knowledge of mass spectrometry is necessary, but an understanding of the fundamentals of gas chromatography is beneficial.
What you will learn
- How the different components of the mass spectrometer work with the gas chromatograph, from the transfer line to the vacuum pumps
- How ions are produced, filtered and detected, and the alternative ways different instruments achieve this
- How tuning affects the instrument and the data generated, and how to benefit from this knowledge
- The rich plethora of information that can be acquired and how to optimise instrument settings for high data quality
COURSE OUTLINE
Basics of GC-MS
- Overview of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry
- How they work together in compound separation and identification
- Common applications (environmental analysis, forensics, food safety, drug testing)
What is GC-MS?
Gas Chromatography (GC) Overview
- Sample introduction (liquid vs. gas samples)
- Volatility and polarity considerations
- Carrier gases (helium, hydrogen, nitrogen)
- Inlet systems (split/splitless, PTV, headspace, thermal desorption)
- Column types (polar vs. non-polar stationary phases)
- Temperature programming & optimization
Principles of GC separation
GC Components & Column Selection
Mass Spectrometry (MS) in GC-MS
- Ionization process & mass-to-charge ratio (m/z)
- Types of GC-MS configurations (single quadrupole, ion trap, time-of-flight)
- Vacuum systems and ion optics
Principles of mass spectrometry
Ionization Techniques in GC-MS
- Electron Ionization (EI)– Fragmentation-rich spectra
- Chemical Ionization (CI)– Soft ionization for molecular ion identification
- Field Ionization (FI)– Suitable for non-fragmenting analysis
Common ionization methods
Application Areas of GC-MS
- Environmental pollutant analysis
- Drug testing and toxicology
- Food safety and pesticide residue detection
- Metabolomics and biomarker discovery
Q&A and Closing Discussion
- Summary of Key Concepts
- Open Discussion on Challenges Faced in GC-MS
- Resources for Further Learning