gas-liquid chromatography

(GLC) A chromatographic technique in which the mixture of substances to be analysed is vaporized and carried along a column containing a liquid (the stationary phase) by an inert carrier gas such as nitrogen (the mobile phase). The components of the mixture separate out at different times according to their gas-liquid partition coefficients (see partition chromatography). Those that are most soluble in the gas emerge from the column first and those most soluble in the liquid emerge last. The nature and amount of the different gases emerging from the column is registered using a gas detector. Fatty acids and other substances, e.g. sterols and hydrocarbons, that are volatile at reasonably low temperatures are separated in this way. See also chromatography.