n-Alkane Sample Preparation

Submit samples in standard GC vials (volume: 2 mL O.D. x length: 12 x 32 mm) with screw caps (9-425 or 10-425). Use inserts for low-concentration samples. With inserts, we can inject up to 5 µL from as little as 40 µL solvent. Use vials with a write-on patch or use clear tape and permanent marker to label vials. Do not wrap vials with opaque marking tape – this makes it difficult to view liquid level. Thick tape causes vials to stick in the autosampler tray.

Total concentration of n-alkanes in samples should range from 0.5 to 4 µg C/µL, for typical samples having 10-20 moderate-sized peaks. Lower total concentration (~0.5 µg C/µL) are acceptable for samples having ≤10 major peaks. Moderate to large n-alkane peaks are 50-200 ng C/uL and the smallest detectable peaks are ~1.5 ng C, on-column.