1. Introduction to two-dimensional gas chromatography

The analysis of complex mixtures (environmental samples, petroleum cuts, natural extracts) in gas chromatography is a real challenge for the analyst. These samples are often too complex to be fully separated on a single stationary phase. What's more, trace compounds often co-elute with very abundant analytes.

Giddings' work perfectly illustrates this phenomenon. Modern capillary columns have more than 100,000 theoretical plates. However, if you...