A sample extraction device and a desorption device for use in gas chromatography (GC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS), liquid chromatography (LC), and/or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS) are disclosed. In some examples, the sample extraction device includes a lower chamber holding a sorbent. The sample extraction device can extract sample headspace gas from a sample vial by placing the sorbent inside the vial and creating a vacuum to increase recovery of low volatility compounds, for example. Once the sample has been collected, the sample extraction device can be inserted into a desorption device. The desorption device can control the flow of a carrier fluid (e.g., a liquid or a gas) through the sorbent containing the sample and into a pre-column and/or a primary column of a chemical analysis device for performing GC, GCMS, LC, LCMS, and/or some other chemical analysis process.

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.

A CMV sampling device includes a thermoelectric cooler, a vacuum pump, and one or more holders for one or more capillary microextractor of volatiles (CMV) tubes. The holder thermally contacts the thermoelectric cooler and the vacuum pump is fluidly connected to the CMV tube. The CMV device is useful for sampling of volatile organic compounds from air. The sampling can be carried out rapidly to achieve a sample within the CMV tube that may be placed into a thermal desorption unit (TDU) coupled to an inlet port for introduction of the volatiles into an analytical instrument, such as, a gas chromatograph (GC), an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS), a liquid chromatograph (LC), and/or a mass spectrometer (MS) for analysis of one or more volatiles.

Determination of Analytes in a Sample Matrix by Solvent Extraction A method for the assay of one or more analytes in a sample matrix comprising the steps of: performing analyte extraction on the sample matrix, said analyte extraction comprising combining the sample matrix with a solvent for an extraction period which is less than that required for reaching equilibrium; and separating the analyte containing solvent from the sample matrix; next measuring a level of analyte present in the separated solvent; and then applying in a computer a calibration by which is established a mathematical relationship between levels of analyte extracted from each of a plurality of reference samples by means of the process employed above in the extraction for the sample matrix and a reference value of the levels of analyte for each reference sample to thereby derive a measure of the level of analyte in the sample matrix. Specifically a method to determine the amount of mycotoxins in cereal grain, especially OTA (ochratoxin A) and DON (deoxynivalenol) by mixing with a solvent comprising water alcohol mixture, with 20-40% ethanol by volume.

A device and method for headspace sampling is disclosed herein. The headspace sampling device comprises a sample holding device configured to be sealed in a vial. The sample holding device has a pair of electrodes gap spaced from one another and a basket extending between the electrodes configured to hold a sample. The basket is configured to heat a sample held therewith and volatize at least a portion of the sample upon an electrical current being passed through the electrodes and the basket.

Disclosed herein is a system for desorbing and detecting an analyte sorbed on a solid phase microextraction (SPME) device. The system includes a desorption chamber sized to accept the SPME device while defining a void volume of less than about 50 μL; a flow injector in fluid connection with the desorption chamber, the desorption chamber and the flow injector being fluidly connected by at least a flow-insulating fluid connector; a solvent source in fluid connection with the flow injector; and a fluid switch that: in a desorption position, allows the solvent to be sprayed from the flow injector while flow-insulating any desorption solution in the desorption chamber, and in an detecting position, turns off the solvent source while maintaining the fluid connection between the flow injector and the desorption chamber, transferring the desorption solution through the flow-insulating fluid connector to the flow injector as a substantially undiluted plug of liquid.

The disclosure discloses a biomarker in osteoporosis intervention therapy by bone peptide, the biomarker including a lipid and lipid-like molecule, an organic acid and its derivative, and/or a neurotransmitter, wherein the lipid and lipid-like molecule includes one or more of taurine, arachidonic acid, 1-palmitoyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycerol-3-phosphoethanolamine, (4Z, 7Z,10Z,13Z,16Z,19Z)-4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic acid, 1-stearoyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine, taurodeoxycholic acid, taurochenodeoxycholate or taurocholic acid. The disclosure discloses a screening method of a biomarker in the anti-osteoporosis activity of bone peptide. The disclosure discloses a use of the biomarker.

A system and method for chemical analysis are described herein. The system includes a probe, a sample collection cartridge, and a chemical analyzer. The probe is configured to collect the optimal amount of sample for a future analysis and to store this chemical sample in the sample collection cartridge. The probe also collects sample data. The chemical analyzer is configured to determine the optimal analysis settings based on the sample data and analyze the chemical sample stored in the sample collection cartridge based on the optimal analysis settings.

A device is described for generating ionized molecules for analysis in a mass spectrometer. The device includes: a solid substrate having one or more edges and a coated area that is coated with an extraction phase comprising an extraction polymer. The solid substrate may have at least two edges that meet at an angle from about 8° to about 180°. Mass spectrometry systems that include such a device are also described. Methods of analyzing a molecule previously extracted from a sample onto the device are also described.

The invention provides a method for verifying the age of an animal providing meat using volatile profiles that comprises the step of providing a sample of animal meat. The method uses one or more chemical analyses to obtain a profile of a set of volatile organic compounds from a sample of meat from an animal. The profile is fit to a mathematically discriminating function resulting. The data obtained is analyzed in order to establish a correlation between the age of the animal (tooth development) and volatiles exuded by meat.