Rapid Field Sampling Solutions for On-Site Analysis Using Field Portable GC/MS
Oral Presentation
Prepared by C. Sadowski1, J. Grandy2, J. Pawliszyn2, T. Truong1, T. Brande1
1 - Torion Technologies, 796 East Utah Valley Drive, Suite 200, American Fork, UT, 84003, United States
2 - Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
Contact Information: chuck.sadowski@torion.com; 801-705-6613
ABSTRACT
A driving force in moving GC/MS from the laboratory to the field is the requirement for faster analysis and turn around times in environmental analysis. To realize the gains provided by the newest generation of field GC/MS, 3 minute analysis times; sampling technologies must be designed for use in the field. What works in the lab doesn't always work in the field; ambient temperature, availability of power, diverse sample matrixes, wide concentration ranges and many other factors need to be considered.
Results will be presented that demonstrate the use of a multi-purpose field sample preparation device the SPS™-3 (Sample Prep Station) for volatile and semi-volatile analysis. Techniques have been developed for extraction of semi-volatiles using micro-extractions or solvent free extractions using the battery operated SPS-3. Volatiles are analyzed on the SPS-3 using a static/dynamic headspace module to extract the VOC’s from water or soil matrices providing low ppb detection limits. VOC’s in air can be collected on a micro-trap device (needle trap) or more conventional thermal desorption tubes like those used in laboratory systems to provide lower detection limits. The inclusion of a module that automatically adds internal standard in the SPS-3 helps improve the accuracy of calibration curves generated in the lab and then facilitates the transfer of to the curves to the field.
In pursuit of further lowering detection limits of on-site environmental analysis leading edge research in the field of solid phase microextraction (SPME) has shifted towards high surface area thin film membrane architecture. By increasing the surface area, and therefor extraction kinetics of the microextraction device, it has been shown that sub-ppb detection limits can be easily achieved on portable GC-MS instrumentation with extraction times of under 10 minutes from both aqueous and gaseous samples.
Oral Presentation
Prepared by C. Sadowski1, J. Grandy2, J. Pawliszyn2, T. Truong1, T. Brande1
1 - Torion Technologies, 796 East Utah Valley Drive, Suite 200, American Fork, UT, 84003, United States
2 - Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
Contact Information: chuck.sadowski@torion.com; 801-705-6613
ABSTRACT
A driving force in moving GC/MS from the laboratory to the field is the requirement for faster analysis and turn around times in environmental analysis. To realize the gains provided by the newest generation of field GC/MS, 3 minute analysis times; sampling technologies must be designed for use in the field. What works in the lab doesn't always work in the field; ambient temperature, availability of power, diverse sample matrixes, wide concentration ranges and many other factors need to be considered.
Results will be presented that demonstrate the use of a multi-purpose field sample preparation device the SPS™-3 (Sample Prep Station) for volatile and semi-volatile analysis. Techniques have been developed for extraction of semi-volatiles using micro-extractions or solvent free extractions using the battery operated SPS-3. Volatiles are analyzed on the SPS-3 using a static/dynamic headspace module to extract the VOC’s from water or soil matrices providing low ppb detection limits. VOC’s in air can be collected on a micro-trap device (needle trap) or more conventional thermal desorption tubes like those used in laboratory systems to provide lower detection limits. The inclusion of a module that automatically adds internal standard in the SPS-3 helps improve the accuracy of calibration curves generated in the lab and then facilitates the transfer of to the curves to the field.
In pursuit of further lowering detection limits of on-site environmental analysis leading edge research in the field of solid phase microextraction (SPME) has shifted towards high surface area thin film membrane architecture. By increasing the surface area, and therefor extraction kinetics of the microextraction device, it has been shown that sub-ppb detection limits can be easily achieved on portable GC-MS instrumentation with extraction times of under 10 minutes from both aqueous and gaseous samples.
