MDGC/GCxGC

Multidimensional Gas Chromatography systems

Multidimensional gas chromatography (MDGC) is a method used to separate complex samples, especially those with a large number of components and analytes that have similar chromatographic retention properties and are prone to coeluting/overlapping.
The method works by running the sample through two columns with different separation properties (stationary phases) instead of the classical single column (1D-GC).
There are two techniques for performing MDGC.
The first is the heart-cutting method (heart-cutting 2D gas chromatography) here all components pass through a first column and discrete portions that were not adequately separated will be “heart-cut” out of the first column to be passed through a second column for further separation.
The second technique is called Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography (GC×GC).
The GCxGC method differs from heart-cutting in that the entire sample and its components are passed through both columns via a modulator located at the connection of the columns.
MDGC can be used among chemistry, biology, forensic, Biomedical, Pharmaceutical, health, environmental, food, fragrance and flavor sciences.