Automated Liner Exchange for GC injectors

The GERSTEL Automated Liner EXchange (ALEX) enables routine GC analysis of samples containing large amounts of matrix or other solid residue. After several injections, matrix material deposited in the GC inlet leads to adsorption and loss of active analytes, such as pesticides. ALEX replaces the GERSTEL CIS inlet liner at user-defined intervals, eliminating the need for time-consuming clean-up steps during sample preparation.

Sample clean-up steps needed to prepare environmental or food samples for determination of pesticides are time-consuming and are potential sources of errors. Simplification or elimination of such procedures is often the motivation for development of new analytical methods and new instrumentation. Unfortunately, analytical instruments do not normally tolerate introduction of “dirty” samples or even “dirty” extracts.

For example, extracts containing suspended matter or high-molecular-weight compounds contaminate a GC inlet after a few injections, causing peak broadening or even loss of sensitive compounds. Reducing or eliminating clean-up steps will result in dirty extracts and daily – or even hourly – maintenance of the GC system.