Page 112 - Multidimensional Chromatography

104 Multidimensional Chromatography

4.6 FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF
GC GC TECHNOLOGY

4.6.1 DIRECTIONS OF GC GC APPLICATIONS AND RESEARCH

It is rarely wise to predict how a new technology will be accepted in the ‘market-
place’–in this case, in analytical laboratories where reliable, simple, informative and
automated methods are demanded. However, given the possibilities that now present
themselves here, such speculation is warranted. The reported applications of GC
GC are not many, and as stated earlier are predominantly in the petroleum area.
However, the advantages that derive from GC GC are equally desirable for, and of
general relevance to, perhaps most separation studies. To say that all applications
will be better conducted by employing GC GC is maybe equivalent to saying that
capillary GC is always better than packed column GC. There will always be an
exception. In order to popularize GC GC, systems must be widely available.
Furthermore, to achieve system placements, users must be convinced that they can
perform their analysis better by using GC GC. This requires more literature stud-
ies to demonstrate that these outcomes are likely. Thus, the future rests largely on (i)
user-friendly GC GC technology which is dependable, and readily available and
implemented, (ii) a strong literature base of analytical studies, (iii) an interpretation
protocol that assists users to assimilate the results of the 2D separation, and (iv) a
data system that presents chromatographic reports in a manner that is familiar to
users. The first feature has not yet been achieved due to limited market acceptance
of the new approach, while the second is slowly being established, although clearly
all of the major interest areas have not yet been tackled. The third and forth features
are major challenges. In our laboratory, we can collect the primary GC GC data,
convert, transform and display the results reasonably quickly, but the fundamental
interpretation that allows the less experienced user to understand the results must
still be developed. The data system requires considerably more attention, and it will
not just be a matter of smart programming to resolve this question. The challenge of
the data system may in fact be the greatest opportunity for GC GC to make its
mark, since the information-rich separations will allow aspects of pattern recogni-
tion and many other ‘chemometric’ tools to be investigated. However, until the rou-
tine laboratory can be assured that at the end of the run, they will get a quantitative
result printed on the post-run report, they are unlikely to rush into this technology.
Nevertheless, it is much more likely that research laboratories will become increas-
ingly attracted to the advantages of GC GC, if only to evaluate the ‘true’ chemical
nature of their materials, or if they are intrigued by the possibilities that the sensitiv-
ity and separation power offers.
We can list the following areas as prime targets: essential oil and natural product
analysis, chiral analysis (e.g. of fragrances), trace multi-residue analysis, pesticide
monitoring, and further petroleum products applications, in fact any separation where
simply greater resolution and sensitivity is demanded–which means probably almost