A method and apparatus for enabling larger injection volumes and for reducing extra column effects in chromatographic separations using focusing pre-columns placed upstream of the analytical, or preparative, column with applications in any chromatographic system where the requirement is that the focusing pre-column, placed upstream of the analytical column, allows larger injection volumes to be utilized and, by enabling efficient focusing of solutes onto the analytical column, results in a significant reduction of band broadening due to extra-column effects which act upstream of the analytical column.

Methods, systems and reagents are provided for detecting and quantifying carbonyl containing moieties in a variety of sample types. The amount of time elapsed from capturing of the carbonyl containing moieties from a sample to the detection of the carbonyl containing moieties is less than about 2 hours. Compounds are provided to facilitate labeling and detection of the carbonyl containing moieties.

Systems and methods for concentrating an analyte preparatory to analysis thereof include processing the effluent of an analyte concentrator to produce an eluent for eluting an analyte retained in the same or separate concentrator, and systems implementing the same. The analyte concentrator system connects the effluent outlet of an analyte concentrator column to an eluent generation module such that the substantially analyte-free effluent discharged from the analyte concentrator column passes fluidly into the eluent generation module. Eluent generated from the substantially analyte-free effluent in the eluent generation module is likewise substantially free of the analyte. The systems and methods can minimize and/or (substantially) eliminate background signal during analysis of the concentrated analyte.

A double-sided diaphragm micro gas-preconcentrator has a micro-gas chamber which is formed by stacking an upper silicon substrate with a lower silicon substrate with a back-on-face configuration. One or more suspended membranes are provided on every silicon substrate. The silicon where the suspended membrane is provided is completely removed for forming a cavity. A thin-film heater is deposited on every suspended membrane. A sorptive film is coated on an inner wall of every suspended membrane. Thus, the upper and lower sides of the preconcentrator in the present invention are suspended membranes, which improve the area of the sorptive film on the diaphragm. As a result, the preconcentrating factor is improved while keeping the small heat capacity, fast heating rate, and low power consumption features of the planar diaphragm preconcentrator.

A double-sided diaphragm micro gas-preconcentrator has a micro-gas chamber which is formed by stacking an upper silicon substrate with a lower silicon substrate with a back-on-face configuration. One or more suspended membranes are provided on every silicon substrate. The silicon where the suspended membrane is provided is completely removed for forming a cavity. A thin-film heater is deposited on every suspended membrane. A sorptive film is coated on an inner wall of every suspended membrane. Thus, the upper and lower sides of the preconcentrator in the present invention are suspended membranes, which improve the area of the sorptive film on the diaphragm. As a result, the preconcentrating factor is improved while keeping the small heat capacity, fast heating rate, and low power consumption features of the planar diaphragm preconcentrator.

A hormone mass spectrometric detection method based on antibody-coupled enrichment technology. The method includes the following steps: coupling antibodies and magnetic beads, adding a high-concentration methanol solution, removing endogenous hormone small molecule compounds carried on the antibodies by vortex, then restoring the activity of the antibodies to obtain antibody magnetic beads that can enrich hormone small molecule compounds. The antibodies are immobilized by magnetic beads and cooperate with the 80% methanol aqueous solution to elute hormone small molecule compounds, and then the hormone small molecule compounds are tested by mass spectrometry, thereby improving the specificity of test.

A pre-concentration device is provided for a gas analysis system (10) for collecting molecular contamination in a vacuum environment (11). The pre-concentration device (13) comprises a hollow element (15) having an entrance opening (20) for receiving molecules from the vacuum environment (11) in a collection phase, a gas outlet for transferring collected molecules to a vacuum compatible detector or second preconcentration device in a transfer phase. The device has an inner wall for adsorbing molecules in the collection phase and desorbing molecules in the transfer phase. The device has a filler element (14) that is movable from a first position outside the hollow element in the collection phase to a second position inside the hollow element in the transfer phase which second position leaves open a transfer channel to the gas outlet along the inner wall. Advantageously, the device enables transferring of the organic or inorganic contaminants collected in the device under vacuum conditions, and requires a minimal amount of ultra pure gas for the transport of the contaminants to a detector or further a concentration device, which lowers the lower limit of detection.

A pre-concentration device is provided for a gas analysis system (10) for collecting molecular contamination in a vacuum environment (11). The pre-concentration device (13) comprises a hollow element (15) having an entrance opening (20) for receiving molecules from the vacuum environment (11) in a collection phase, a gas outlet for transferring collected molecules to a vacuum compatible detector or second preconcentration device in a transfer phase. The device has an inner wall for adsorbing molecules in the collection phase and desorbing molecules in the transfer phase. The device has a filler element (14) that is movable from a first position outside the hollow element in the collection phase to a second position inside the hollow element in the transfer phase which second position leaves open a transfer channel to the gas outlet along the inner wall. Advantageously, the device enables transferring of the organic or inorganic contaminants collected in the device under vacuum conditions, and requires a minimal amount of ultra pure gas for the transport of the contaminants to a detector or further a concentration device, which lowers the lower limit of detection.

The disclosed system and method concentrates and enriches a chemical sample while removing water and/or CO2 prior to analysis, improving detection limits and repeatability of quantitative chemical analysis without the need for cryogenic or sub-ambient cooling. The system can include a valve system, a dewpoint control zone, and a multi-capillary column trapping system (MCCTS). During a first time period, the valve system can couple the dewpoint control zone to the MCCTS. During a second time period, the valve system can couple the MCCTS to the chemical separation column such the dewpoint control zone is bypassed. Excess water included in the sample can condense in the dewpoint control zone as the sample transfers to the dewpoint control zone and MCCTS. When the sample is transferred from the MCCTS to the chemical separation column, the condensed water in the dewpoint control zone is not transferred to a chemical separation column.

The disclosed system and method concentrates and enriches a chemical sample while removing water and/or CO2 prior to analysis, improving detection limits and repeatability of quantitative chemical analysis without the need for cryogenic or sub-ambient cooling. The system can include a valve system, a dewpoint control zone, and a multi-capillary column trapping system (MCCTS). During a first time period, the valve system can couple the dewpoint control zone to the MCCTS. During a second time period, the valve system can couple the MCCTS to the chemical separation column such the dewpoint control zone is bypassed. Excess water included in the sample can condense in the dewpoint control zone as the sample transfers to the dewpoint control zone and MCCTS. When the sample is transferred from the MCCTS to the chemical separation column, the condensed water in the dewpoint control zone is not transferred to a chemical separation column.