Gas chromatography is technique of separation in which analyte (gas) is
transported through the column by carrier gas which is the mobile phase. Stationary phase is a non-volatile liquid or a sometimes a solid. (a) In gas chromatography, it is often difficult to properly resolve components completely without using a technique known as temperature programming. If the column is maintained at a low temperature for the duration of a sample run, the first peaks to elute will likely be well-spaced, but the components that stay on the column longer will find themselves bound to the stationary phase for longer periods of time; this results in a broad band, and long run times. At higher temperatures, these components spend more time in the mobile (gas) phase, which helps them elute faster and broadening of band is minimized. Hence, the advantages of temperature programming are the decrease in retention time and sharpen the peaks. (b) In pressure programming, the inlet pressure is increased which reduces the retention time for the components which elute late. The effect is similar to temperature programming. In case of pressure programming the probability of decomposition of thermally sensitive components is highly reduced. At the end of the experiment the pressure is rapidly reduced and there is no wastage of time as compared to temperature programming in which the hot column takes time to cool and resume for next injection. Hence, the advantages of pressure programming are the decrease in retention time and reduce in the chances of decomposition of thermally sensitive components.