Fitted with a variety of detectors, the laboratory essentially has three instrument techniques available, all of which are useful for both qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Gas Chromatography (GC)

• Mass Spectrometry (MS)
• Flame Ionisation (FID)
• Electron Capture (ECD)

Widely used, almost entirely for organic materials, the technique is rapid, simple and can cope with very complex mixtures (100 or more components) and very small samples (nanograms). In addition to the various detectors, the laboratory has an automated headspace samplers and a heated gas injection valve.

Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

• UV
• Fluorescence
• Refractive Index (RI)

A technique widely used for organic and inorganic materials. It is especially useful for checks on purity to monitor reactions and production processes and to characterise complex materials. In addition classical techniques available include:

Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and Paper Chromatography

Used mainly for qualitative purposes, almost any mixture can be at least partially resolved by one of these techniques. It is ideally suited to quality control, purity checks, clinical diagnosis and forensic tests.