ChemSW Announces New Method Development Search Program for Gas Chromatographers
Fairfield, California, December 18, 2008 – ChemSW, Inc. has just released a new NIST GC Retention Index (GC-RI) Database library and search program for GC Method Development that will be an essential tool for anyone performing gas chromatography (GC, GC/MS, GC/FTIR). The new program’s gas phase Retention Index (RI) database contains the Kovats Indices (KI) with more than 293,000 citations (GC conditions, literature citations with titles, and RI values) for over 44,000 compounds on both non-polar and polar columns.
The new vendor-independent tool expedites method development. Not only can users search for RI data by compound name, partial name, formula, nominal molecular weight, CAS number, or structure, but also searches can be narrowed by column type, stationary phase type, or temperature conditions. Users can even constrain their search by “RI value range”.
ChemSW President Brian Stafford points out that this new tool for Gas Chromatographers will significantly enhance their method development. “Have you ever generated a chromatogram where an unknown peak mysteriously appears between two peaks of known identity? The NIST GC-RI Database now allows you to search by RI value for compounds that have a retention index in the range that corresponds to the unknown compound. You can save hours of frustration and narrow the list of candidates significantly.”
“In addition, most current software development tools were created by a vendor in support of their own products, ” he adds, “so it has been difficult to accurately compare the results to expect from different vendor’s columns. This database allows you to quickly determine the recommended column type without any vendor bias.”
The NIST GC-RI Database and its accompanying search program provide retention index data and gas chromatographic conditions for 44,008 compounds on polar and non-polar stationary phase used with packed and open tubular columns. The 293,247 citations (index values and GC methods) contain the complete bibliographical information and title of the original source research paper. Details of the gas chromatographic method used to obtain the retention index are also provided.
Many of the compounds are indexed by multiple names (Synonyms). All the compounds are indexed by elemental composition (Formula), nominal mass (MW), Chemical Abstracts Services registry number (CAS#), and a sequence number pertaining to their position in the NIST GC-RI Database (ID#). Estimated non-polar retention index (n-alkane series) values, based on structure, are also provided for each compound.
Search results for individual hits can be constrained according to column type (packed or capillary), stationary-phase type (polar or non-polar), GC temperature conditions (isothermal or temperature programmed), and/or retention index type (Lee or Kovats).
“In addition, there’s no need to worry about validation,” he points out, “because information acquired by CISProMobile goes through the existing Quality Assurance system the same as any other remote data collection activity. This is really just another user interface on the inventory application; as such it complies with all of the GxPs.”
About ChemSW
Founded over a decade ago, ChemSW is a leading provider of chemical and biochemical inventory management systems, MSDS systems and other chemistry laboratory software and services. ChemSW’s wide range of products streamline laboratory processes and reduce chemical purchasing and disposal costs. ChemSW supports over 15,000 customers in more than 40 countries throughout the world. www.chemsw.com
