ristikkokytkentämassaspektrometria

Ristikkokytkentämassaspektrometria, often abbreviated as GC-MS, is a powerful analytical technique that combines the separation capabilities of gas chromatography (GC) with the detection power of mass spectrometry (MS). In this hyphenated technique, a sample is first injected into a gas chromatograph. The GC separates the components of the sample based on their differing volatilities and interactions with the stationary phase of the GC column. As each separated component elutes from the GC column, it is directly introduced into the mass spectrometer. The mass spectrometer then ionizes these components and separates the resulting ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio. This process generates a unique mass spectrum for each individual compound. The combination of the retention time from the GC and the mass spectrum from the MS allows for highly specific identification and quantification of substances within a complex mixture. GC-MS is widely used in various fields, including environmental monitoring for pollutants, forensic science for drug detection and arson investigation, and food safety analysis for contaminants and flavor profiling. Its ability to provide both qualitative and quantitative information makes it an indispensable tool for chemical analysis.