A diffusive sampling device is used for quantitative measurement of chemicals in indoor and outdoor air. The sampling device includes a vial containing a sorbent on the inside bottom of the vial. The sampling device can be thermally vacuum cleaned before transport to the sampling location, and the sorbent can be chosen to allow the collection of either volatile or semi-volatile compounds (VOCs or SVOCs). After a diffusive sampling period (1 hour to 1 month), the vial is closed, and the collected sample is transferred to a laboratory for analysis. Using a thermal vacuum extraction focusing technique, the collected sample is rapidly delivered to a GCMS-compatible preconcentration device including a second sorbent for either split or splitless injection into a capillary based GCMS. No solvents are used during sampler preparation or analysis, and detection limits needed for monitoring of ambient or indoor air can be achieved for thousands of chemicals.

Embodiments of a mobile carrier monitoring apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes one or more mobile carriers configured to receive items being manufactured in its interior and configured be moved by a transport system to multiple positions within a manufacturing facility. A mobile carrier control system is positioned in the interior or on the exterior of each mobile carrier, as are one or more sensors that are coupled to the mobile carrier control system. A communication system is positioned in the interior or on the exterior of each mobile carrier and communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor and to the mobile carrier control system, and an electrical power system positioned in the interior or on the exterior of each mobile carrier and coupled to deliver electrical power to the mobile carrier control system, to the one or more sensors, and to the communication system. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

A distributable sampling and sensing instrument for chemical analysis of consumable foods and other agricultural products. The distributable sampling system is used to separate and concentrate the chemicals of interest obtained from samples at remote locations via thermal desorption onto a detachable target substrate that can be analyzed on-site or off-site. The volatile components adsorbed onto the target substrate can be analyzed with specific sensors (e.g., electrochemical sensors) or the assembly can be sent to a central lab and analyzed with conventional chemical instrumentation (e.g., GC-MS). This instrument provides the capability to enable chemical analysis of a wide range of chemical species of interest in a wide range of environments and conditions.

A particle component analyzing device is provided. The particle component analyzing device comprises: a catching body which catches a particle in an aerosol which is subject to measurement, an energy beam irradiating unit which irradiates an energy beam to the particle which is caught by the catching body, and an analyzer which analyzes at least any of a component and an amount of the particle based on a desorbed component of the particle which is desorbed from the catching body by irradiation of the energy beam, wherein the catching body has a temperature measuring unit, the particle component analyzing device further comprising a controlling unit which controls an output of the energy beam irradiating unit based on a temperature of the catching body which is measured by the temperature measuring unit.

Techniques disclosed herein can improve the extraction of chemicals prior to analysis by GC or GCMS. A liquid or solid sample can be placed in a sample container of a closed system under vacuum that further includes a sample extraction device. The assembly can be placed in a 3-zone heater that can separately control the temperature of the bottom of the sample container, the top of the sample container, and the sample extraction device. Vapor flux from the bottom of the sample container into the headspace of the sample container can deliver compounds of interest to the sample extraction device, whereas matrix compounds can re-condense in the headspace of the sample container to avoid delivery to the sample extraction device. Extraction can continue until substantial transfer of compounds of interest to the sorbent occurs, followed by thermal desorption of the extract into a GCMS for analysis.

The present disclosure is directed to methods and systems for detecting a substance in a sample gas. The methods and systems include separating the substance of interest in the sample gas, and introducing the separated sample gas into a detector. The systems and methods further include performing an analysis of the substance of interest.

Disclosed is a thermal desorber assembly for desorbing substances collected on a high-volume sampling (HVS) filter. The assembly includes, among other elements, a filter holder for securing a HVS filter within the assembly, a desorber body, and an insulating enclosure. The design of the thermal desorber assembly is such that it can accommodate a variety of different types of HVS filter media. Also described herein is a system comprising the thermal desorber assembly and method of using the assembly.

Systems and methods are provided for tracking all chemicals, including odors, a package is exposed to throughout the shipping process. A device is attached to the package or placed within the package to extract the chemicals that are in the surrounding environment to the device. The device can extract and concentrate volatile, semi-volatile and non-volatile chemicals that the device and the corresponding package are exposed to throughout the shipping process. The extracted chemicals may then be desorbed from the device and analyzed by an analytical instrumentation method.

Disclosed are methods for determining and classifying aircraft air contaminants comprising one or more of: turbine engine oil, hydraulic fluid and deicing fluid using contaminant analyzers comprising a contaminant collector comprising a membrane and a heater vaporizing the contaminants; a gravimetric sensor generating a response when contaminant mass is added to or removed from the sensor, the sensor receiving contaminants desorbed from the heated membrane; a frequency measurement device, measuring the response generated by the sensor as the contaminant is added to and removed from the sensor; a computer readable medium bearing a contaminant recognition program and calibration data; a processor executing the program, the program including a module classifying contaminants by type, and a module using the data for comparison with magnitude of response generated by the sensor to calculate contaminant concentration; and, a pump, generating flow of air through the collector before and after the membrane is heated.

According to various embodiments, a sensor arrangement for particle analysis may include: a base electrode configured to generate an electrical field for particle attraction; a support layer disposed over the base electrode; a sensor array disposed over the support layer and including or formed from a plurality of sensor elements, wherein each sensor element of the plurality of sensor elements is configured to generate or modify an electrical signal in response to a particle at least one of adsorbed to and approaching the sensor element; and an electrical contact structure may include or be formed from a plurality of contact lines, wherein each contact line of the plurality of contact lines is electrically connected to a respective sensor element of the plurality of sensor elements, such that each sensor element of the plurality of sensor elements is addressable via the contact structure.