📘 Course Description:
This advanced-level course is designed for experienced chromatographers and laboratory professionals who wish to master the latest techniques, applications, and in-depth troubleshooting strategies in Gas Chromatography (GC). The program focuses on method enhancement, selectivity tuning, high-resolution separations, multi-dimensional GC, and GC-MS coupling.
Participants will engage in case-based problem solving, real chromatographic issue diagnosis, and learn how to apply advanced injection, column, and detector configurations for complex matrices including petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, food, and environmental samples.
🎯 Learning Objectives:
By the end of the course, participants will:
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Master high-performance injection and separation techniques
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Evaluate and select advanced GC columns and detector systems
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Apply multidimensional GC (GC×GC) and GC-MS principles
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Troubleshoot retention time shifts, ghost peaks, baseline noise, and more
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Optimize methods using real-world examples and quality benchmarks
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Understand regulatory and validation considerations for advanced GC methods
🗓️ Day 1: GC Fundamentals – Expert-Level Review & Advanced Column Technologies
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 08:30 – 09:00 | Welcome & Pre-assessment |
| 09:00 – 10:30 | Advanced Retention Mechanisms: Partitioning, Adsorption, Solubility |
| 10:30 – 10:45 | Coffee Break |
| 10:45 – 12:00 | Capillary Columns: PLOT, Multilayer, Metal vs Fused Silica |
| 12:00 – 13:00 | Lunch |
| 13:00 – 14:30 | Column Coatings & Film Thickness: Selectivity and Efficiency Impact |
| 14:30 – 14:45 | Break |
| 14:45 – 16:30 | Hands-on Column Selection & Troubleshooting Misuse or Degradation |
🗓️ Day 2: Injection Techniques and Sample Handling Innovations
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 08:30 – 10:30 | Split/Splitless, PTV, On-column, & Cold On-column Injection |
| 10:30 – 10:45 | Coffee Break |
| 10:45 – 12:00 | Large Volume Injection & Cryogenic Focusing |
| 12:00 – 13:00 | Lunch |
| 13:00 – 14:30 | Headspace, SPME, Thermal Desorption, Pyrolysis-GC |
| 14:30 – 14:45 | Break |
| 14:45 – 16:30 | Injection System Maintenance and Leak Testing |
🗓️ Day 3: Detector Technologies and Selectivity Tuning
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 08:30 – 10:30 | Advanced Detectors: FID, TCD, ECD, NPD, FPD, PFPD |
| 10:30 – 10:45 | Coffee Break |
| 10:45 – 12:00 | Mass Spectrometry Coupling: GC-MS and GC-MS/MS Fundamentals |
| 12:00 – 13:00 | Lunch |
| 13:00 – 14:30 | Using Selectivity for Complex Matrix Analysis (Pesticides, VOCs, Gases) |
| 14:30 – 14:45 | Break |
| 14:45 – 16:30 | Live Demo or Case Study Review: Detector Selection & Calibration |
🗓️ Day 4: Method Development, Optimization, and Multidimensional GC
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 08:30 – 10:30 | Method Optimization: Pressure/Flow Programming, Ramp Rate Strategy |
| 10:30 – 10:45 | Coffee Break |
| 10:45 – 12:00 | Resolution Enhancement Techniques: Peak Deconvolution, Backflushing |
| 12:00 – 13:00 | Lunch |
| 13:00 – 14:30 | Comprehensive GC×GC and Heart-cutting GC |
| 14:30 – 14:45 | Break |
| 14:45 – 16:30 | Validation Parameters: Linearity, LOD/LOQ, Repeatability |
🗓️ Day 5: Systematic Troubleshooting & Application Case Studies
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 08:30 – 10:30 | Troubleshooting Scenarios: Retention Shift, Tailing, Ghost Peaks |
| 10:30 – 10:45 | Coffee Break |
| 10:45 – 12:00 | Diagnosing Problems from Chromatogram Patterns |
| 12:00 – 13:00 | Lunch |
| 13:00 – 14:30 | Industry Application Cases: Petrochemical, Food, Pharma, Environment |
| 14:30 – 14:45 | Break |
| 14:45 – 16:30 | Group Project & Final Assessment / Certificates Distribution |
📦 Included Materials:
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GC troubleshooting charts & decision trees
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Method optimization templates
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Case study booklet (PDF)
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Interactive chromatogram files for practice
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Certificate of Advanced Training
👥 Recommended Participants:
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Senior GC Analysts and Chemists
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Lab Managers and Quality Supervisors
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Petrochemical, Pharma, and Environmental Lab Professionals
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Research Scientists
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Analysts working with GC-MS or GC×GC systems
