1st Edition

Forensic Applications of Gas Chromatography

    186 Pages 109 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    186 Pages
    by CRC Press

    Several areas of forensic science use the technique of gas chromatography, ranging from fire analysis to the investigation of fraudulent food and perfumes. Covering the essentials of this powerful analytical technique, Forensic Applications of Gas Chromatography explains the theory and shows applications of this knowledge to various realms of forensic science.

    Topics include:

    • A brief introduction to gas chromatography and its use in forensic science
    • Various components that make up the gas chromatographic instrumentation
    • The theory of the separation process, along with the chemistry underpinning the process
    • Method development, with a specific example of a separation of eight different compounds using a gas chromatography-flame ionization detector
    • Quality assurance and method validation—with information applicable to many types of analytical testing laboratories
    • Troubleshooting in gas chromatography systems
    • New developments in gas chromatography and advances in columns and detectors

    Real examples supplement the text, along with questions in each chapter. The book includes examples of applications of gas chromatography in drugs, toxicology, fire, paint, food, and fragrance. Each application is presented as an individual case study with specific focus on a particular sample preparation technique. This allows each technique to be discussed with respect to its theory, instrumentation, solvent selection, and function, as appropriate. Each case study provides readers with suitable practical information to allow them to perform experiments in their own laboratory either as part of a practical laboratory class or in a research context. The final chapter provides answers to the questions and encourages further study and discussion.

    Introduction to Gas Chromatography
    Instrumentation for Gas Chromatography
    Choice of Gas
    Sample Introduction
    Column Oven
    GC Columns
    Detectors
    Basic Principles of Chromatography
    Theory of Chromatography
    Method Development
    Influence of Sample Introduction Method
    Influence of the Carrier Gas
    Influence of the Column
    Influence of Oven Temperature
    Influence of the Detector
    An Example
    Quality Assurance and Method Validation
    Quality Assurance
    Quality Control
    Why Be Quality Assured?
    Ways to Ensure Quality of Product or Service
    Instrument Qualification
    Method Validation
    Troubleshooting in Gas Chromatography
    Introduction
    Baseline Disturbances
    Irregular Peak Shapes
    Retention Time Shifts
    Loss of Separation or Resolution
    Loss of Sensitivity
    Rapid Column Deterioration
    Ghost Peaks
    Developments in Gas Chromatography
    Developments in Sample Preparation Techniques
    Developments in Column Technology
    Developments in Instrumentation
    Forensic Applications of Gas Chromatography
    Drug Analysis
    Forensic Toxicology
    Forensic Analysis of Fire Debris
    Paint Analysis
    Food and Fragrance Analysis
    Answers to Questions
    Glossary
    Index


    Biography

    John Richard Dean, Michelle Groves Carlin

    " … useful for undergraduate and postgraduate students and young scientists, but also for experienced scientists starting to work with gas chromatography."
    Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry