What is Hyper-Fast GC?
Traditional gas chromatography (GC) relies on a conventional
oven, heating the entire column at a uniform temperature. In contrast, hyper-fast
GC leverages flow-field thermal gradient technology, eliminating the need for
an oven. Instead, the GC column is housed within a stainless steel tube which
is heated directly, with a precisely controlled temperature gradient along its
length. This approach enables rapid separations, improved peak resolution, and
greater efficiency.
How does flow-field thermal gradient (FF-TG) GC work?
Instead of using a conventional oven, the separation column is housed in a thin steel capillary that is heated directly for rapid and efficient temperature control. Additionally, rather than applying uniform heating, the system introduces a thermal gradient to enhance separation performance. This is achieved using a gradient fan, which regulates airflow around the column to create a controlled temperature profile.
The separation column is coiled helically inside a specially designed chamber, where its position relative to the gradient fan dictates the temperature distribution. At one end, near the sample inlet, the column is farther from the fan and experiences less cooling, keeping it hotter. As the column progresses towards the detector, it moves closer to the fan, increasing heat loss and gradually lowering the temperature.
This controlled cooling creates a smooth and stable thermal gradient, which can be precisely adjusted by modifying the gradient fan speed and heating rate to optimise separation conditions for different samples.
This carefully controlled thermal gradient not only results in lower elution temperatures – beneficial for thermally labile compounds – but also has a direct impact on peak shape and resolution. In traditional GC, peaks can broaden due to diffusion, reducing resolution. However, in FF–TG–GC, the thermal gradient introduces a velocity difference across the peak, with the front moving slower than the tail. This effect counteracts peak broadening, producing consistently sharp, Gaussian peaks for improved chromatographic performance.
The result? Faster separations, sharper peaks, and
dramatically reduced elution temperatures, without compromising performance.
What are the advantages of hyper-fast GC?
- Faster analysis – Optimised thermal gradients reduce run times, enabling more efficient high-throughput analysis than traditional GC.
- Lower elution temperatures – Allows the analysis of thermally labile compounds by reducing the risk of degradation.
- Rapid cooldown – An integrated water circulation system cools the capillary from 350 °C to 40 °C in around 30 seconds, significantly reducing cycle time.
- Reduced running costs – The low thermal mass minimises energy consumption, further improved by shorter run times per analysis.
- No specialist consumables – Uses the same separation columns and materials as traditional GC systems, avoiding hidden costs.
Which detectors are compatible with hyper-fast GC?
The HyperChrom GC is compatible with various mass spectrometers, including SepSolve’s own BenchTOF2 time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometers, as well as a range of quadrupole-based systems (Q-MS and QqQ-MS), provided they are capable of operating in standalone mode. A fully integrated flame ionisation detector (FID) is also available, designed specifically for the HyperChrom GC.
Detector selection depends on the application – however, due to the narrow peak widths produced by the HyperChrom GC, single quadrupole instruments are not recommended for screening methods, as their acquisition speed is limited.
What applications can hyper-fast GC be used for?
HyperChrom GC excels in high-speed analysis across a range of industries, enabling fast and precise detection of key compounds.Applications include:
- Petrochemical industry – Rapid characterisation of hydrocarbons, process gases, and fuel composition for quality control and regulatory compliance.
- Food and beverages – Accelerated screening of flavours, contaminants, and adulterants to ensure product quality and safety.
- Environmental analysis – Fast detection of VOCs, SVOCs, PAHs, TPH and other pollutants for air, water, and soil monitoring.
- Defence and forensics – Quick decision-making for threat detection and evidence preservation, with lower elution temperatures ideal for thermally labile compounds such as nitrate esters (e.g. PETN).
- Pharmaceuticals – High-throughput testing of residual solvents and active ingredients to support drug development and manufacturing.
By integrating HyperChrom GC into these workflows, laboratories can achieve faster, more efficient, and cost-effective analyses.