Nitrogen as a Carrier Gas for Capillary GC

Helium is the most routinely used carrier gas for capillary GC, however, with the pressure of limited worldwide supply resulting in its increasing cost there have been moves to use alternatives. Some laboratories are turning to often forgotten nitrogen. Although there has been little favor shown to nitrogen in recent years due to the desire for faster analyses (nitrogen produces longer run times) it is a highly applicable carrier gas for many capillary GC separations.