Unless you’re a scientist working in a laboratory, you’ve likely never heard of chromatography. Even if you haven’t heard of this scientific analysis process, you’ve probably encountered it several times throughout your life. Chromatography is a vital separation method that plays a large role in numerous industries, including environmental research.
The Environmental Benefits of Chromatography
Air Quality and VOCs
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) become more and more common in the environment every day. Many of these compounds can cause problems when they enter the atmosphere through the air or water supply. VOCs originate from many different substances like paint, fuel, and food—and many VOCs are hazardous to both humans and the environment.
Considering this danger, it’s critical for scientists to measure VOCs in the atmosphere. Gas chromatography is one of the most common detection methods, as it can determine which VOCs are present in the air.
Pesticide Detection
A safe, clean, and healthy environment is imperative to human health, especially when we acknowledge how much of the food we need comes from the environment. Pesticides are necessary for keeping unwanted pests out of our crops, but they’re not something we should ingest.
Depending on the type of pesticide, both gas and liquid chromatography can analyze trace pesticide residue on crops. This way, we can ensure the food we consume is safe and free from harmful chemical substances.
Tracking Oil Spills
Oil spills are a significant concern when it comes to protecting our natural water supply. Some oil spills may happen by accident, but others are the result of deliberate dumping. No matter what the reasoning is for an oil spill, identifying the source is a crucial step. Thankfully, gas chromatography can identify biomarkers within the oil to determine the source. This can help put an end to the accidental spill or uncover unethical deliberate dumping.
The environmental benefits of chromatography stretch far beyond VOC, pesticide, and oil spill detection, but these three applications play a vital role in keeping our environment safe.
