Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

The GCMS (Gas-chromatography Mass Spectrometer) is a high-tech piece of test equipment used to test plastics for Phthalates and other harmful substances. 

Our Shimadzu GCMS features a Frontier Labs Auto shot sampler and pyrolizer which allows 48 samples to be loaded in one single test sequence. 

The test sequence will start by moving the sample into the pyrolizer, vaporizing the physical sample and releasing the gas. This gas will then be pushed around the specialized column by our selected carrier gas, Helium. As this is pushed around the column the gas compound will slowly separate and split apart at different times during the sequence showing information about what makes up that compound. This broken-down gas will then enter the Mass Spectrometer which will use charged ions to further break down the sample gas and give the operator the composition of the material. This process is typically used for plastic, rubbers and inks.