After the components of a mixture are separated using gas chromatography , they must be detected as they exit the GC column . The links listed below provide the details of some specific GC detectors. The requirements of a GC detector depends on the separation application. The ECD is as sensitive as the FID but has a limited dynamic range and finds its greatest application in analysis organic molecules that contain electronegative functional groups, such as halogens, phosphorous, and nitro groups. The FID is extremely sensitive with a large dynamic range, its only disadvantage is that it destroys the sample.
Mass spectrometers provide structural information to identify the analyte in a chromatographic peak.
A detector similar in design to an FID but with selectivity for compounds containing nitrogen and phosphorus.