GC/MS Group

GC/MS Group Staff

The Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) Group provides analysis of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds using the Center’s GC and GC/MS instrumentation.

While there are many different compounds included in the broad categories of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, many of the analytical procedures for these different compounds follow the same basic approaches. Homogenized samples are solvent extracted or partitioned onto a solid phase, which is then solvent extracted. The solvent extracts, particularly those from solid matrices, are then subjected to clean-up procedures using solid-liquid column chromatography. Finally, the extracts are concentrated to a small volume before injection into the analytical instrument. Exact procedures are tailored to match the analytes being sought. Analysis is performed using a gas chromatograph (GC) with any of a variety of detectors that includes flame ionization (FID), electron capture (ECD) or mass spectrometry (MS). For some analytes, the extract will be analyzed using one detector, and then confirmed on a GC with a second detector.

Instrument detection limits for most analytes are at low ppb levels, and, depending on the sample amount and type, reporting limits may be in the sub-ppb range.

The members of the GC/MS group are Gary Bordson, the Group Leader, John Scott, and Bethany Coons.

For more information on our GC/MS group analytical capabilities contact Gary Bordson at 217-244-8910.