Preparing a sample for gas chromatography (GC) involves diluting it in a suitable solvent to ensure it's compatible with the instrument and at the correct concentration for analysis. Here's a simple approach:
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Choose a Suitable Solvent: Select a low-boiling solvent that will not interfere with the analysis. Common choices include:
- Methanol
- Clean Acetone
- Diethyl Ether
- Dichloromethane
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Fill the GC Vial: Fill a GC vial to approximately the 1.5mL mark.
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Add the Sample: Add a very small amount of the sample to the solvent. Typically, one drop is sufficient. Avoid adding too much sample (two drops is usually too much). If you suspect you only added half a drop, that is likely adequate.
Essentially, you are diluting your sample in a low-boiling solvent to a detectable concentration within the GC instrument.
