Advantages of Liquid Chromatography (LC) vs. Gas Chromatography (GC)

Liquid Chromatography (LC) vs. Gas Chromatography(GC): Advantages & Disadvantages

 

In a previous post entitled “What is Liquid Chromatography? What is HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography)” the LC and the HPLC analytical techniques were compared and the main advantages and disadvantages of each one were explained.

The main advantages of liquid chromatography (LC) compared to gas chromatography (GC) are going to be presented in this post.

 

Advantages of LC compared to GC

LC is applied to the separation of any compound that is soluble in a liquid phase such as drugs and pharmaceuticals, nucleic acids, amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates, antioxidants, natural and synthetic polymers and inorganic compounds. GC is applied only to volatile compounds.
LC analysis is usually performed at room temperature and therefore compounds that are thermally labile can be analyzed
Retention of solutes in LC depend on their interaction with both the mobile and the stationary phase and therefore this technique is more flexible in optimizing separations
The LC detectors that are used are usually not destructive and therefore the analytes may be collected for further analysis.  

 

Disadvantages of LC compared to GC

The main disadvantages of liquid chromatography (LC) compared to gas chromatography (GC) are as follows:

LC has always been a slower technique than GC. Analysis times of GC of a few minutes are common. In contrast, LC traditionally has been a slower technique.
LC is subject to greater peak or band-broadening and therefore to lower resolution compared to GC.

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Relevant Posts

What is reversed phase liquid chromatography (LC) / HPLC?

Normal phase liquid chromatography (LC) / HPLC?

Which are the main liquid chromatography separation modes? / Liquid-Liquid Chromatography (LLC)

Selection of the Liquid Chromatographic (LC) / HPLC Separation Mode

Troubleshooting HPLC / Liquid Chromatography Systems – Peak Tailing

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References

1. Nina Hadden et al., “Basic Liquid Chromatography”, Varian Aerograph, 1971
2. C.A. Dorschel, J.L. Ekmanis, J.E. Oberholtzer  et al. “LC Detectors” Anal. Chem., 61, 951A–968A, 1989
3. C. F. Simpson, “Techniques in Liquid Chromatography” Wiley-Hayden: Chichester, England, 1982
4. L.R. Snyder, J. L Glajch,  J. J. Kirkland, “Practical HPLC Method Development”, Wiley-Interscience: New York, 1988.
5. V.R. Meyer, “Practical High – Performance Liquid Chromatography”, Wiley, 2010
6. M. McMaster, “LC/MS A Practical User’s Guide”, Wiley-Interscience, 2005

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Key Terms

HPLC, high performance liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography advantages, gc chromatography advantages, LC, volatile compounds, resolution, isocratic pump

 

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