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Why are these methods important?
GC/MS and HPLC are methods that are used to measure concentrations of chemical analytes in a wide variety of samples.
Applications include
- Trace residue analysis of pesticides, metals, organic solvents
- Toxicology screening
- Drug testing
- Identification of chemicals in a mixture
Different measurement techniques for different chemical classes
- GC/MS is useful for chemicals that are volatile or semi-volatile (e.g., benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)
- HPLC is useful for chemicals that have low volatility (e.g., larger molecules and ionic compounds such as pesticides), but can also be used for some volatile compounds.