A method and system for sample analysis involve a temporally-resolving separation of sample components. In the method, solvent vapors are condensed prior to entering a temporally-resolving separator, a GC column, for example, and solvent-depleted vapors are directed to the separator where constituents are resolved in time. A system for analyzing a sample comprises an injection port, a temporally-resolving separator (e.g., a GC column) and a conduit connecting the two. The injection port is at a temperature sufficiently high to vaporize the solvent and analytes present in a sample. The conduit is configured and/or operated to condense the solvent, while maintaining the analytes in the vapor phase.

One or more embodiments of the present disclosure include a gas-analysis system. The gas-analysis system may include a first valve, a gas-measurement device, and a second valve. The first valve may be between a sample-gas line and a sample-gas outlet. The first valve may be configured to either allow or prevent gas movement between the sample-gas line and the sample-gas outlet. The gas-measurement device operatively coupled to a testing-gas line. The second valve may be between the sample-gas line, a flushing-gas inlet, and the testing-gas line. The second valve may be configured to allow gas movement from one of the sample-gas line or the flushing-gas inlet to the testing-gas line.

One or more embodiments of the present disclosure include a gas-analysis system. The gas-analysis system may include a first valve, a gas-measurement device, and a second valve. The first valve may be between a sample-gas line and a sample-gas outlet. The first valve may be configured to either allow or prevent gas movement between the sample-gas line and the sample-gas outlet. The gas-measurement device operatively coupled to a testing-gas line. The second valve may be between the sample-gas line, a flushing-gas inlet, and the testing-gas line. The second valve may be configured to allow gas movement from one of the sample-gas line or the flushing-gas inlet to the testing-gas line.

A microfluidic bead-packing method includes activating a first micropump to transfer active microbeads through an inlet microchannel from a bead suspension reservoir to an adsorbing channel; packing the microbeads in the adsorbing channel; and activating a second micropump to reverse flow through at least a portion of the inlet microchannel and to transfer a sample fluid through the inlet microchannel from a sample reservoir to the adsorbing channel such that the sample fluid interacts with the packed microbeads.

A multi-capillary column pre-concentration trap for use in various chromatography techniques (e.g., gas chromatography (GC) or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS)) is disclosed. In some examples, the trap can include a plurality of capillary columns connected in series in order of increasing strength (i.e., increasing chemical affinity for one or more sample compounds). A sample can enter the trap, flowing from a sample vial to a relatively weak column to the relatively strongest column of the trap by way of any additional columns included in the trap, for example. In some examples, the trap can be heated and backflushed so that the sample exits the trap through the head of the relatively weak column. Next, the sample can be injected into a chemical analysis device for performing the chromatography technique (e.g., GC or GCMS) or it can be injected into a secondary multi-capillary column trap for further concentration.

In a gas chromatograph 1, a back-pressure calculation processor 242 calculates a back pressure for a first detector. The pressure calculation processor 243 calculates a pressure of a carrier gas in a branching part. The back-flow determination processor 244 compares the pressure of the carrier gas in the branching part calculated by the pressure calculation processor 243 with the back pressure of the first detector calculated by the back-pressure calculation processor 242, and if the pressure of the carrier gas in the branching part is smaller than the back pressure of the first detector, the back-flow determination processor 244 determines that the carrier gas will flow back. It is therefore possible to surely know that there is a possibility that a back-flow of the carrier gas will occur, by checking the determination result of the back-flow determination processor 244.

In a gas chromatograph 1, a back-pressure calculation processor 242 calculates a back pressure for a first detector. The pressure calculation processor 243 calculates a pressure of a carrier gas in a branching part. The back-flow determination processor 244 compares the pressure of the carrier gas in the branching part calculated by the pressure calculation processor 243 with the back pressure of the first detector calculated by the back-pressure calculation processor 242, and if the pressure of the carrier gas in the branching part is smaller than the back pressure of the first detector, the back-flow determination processor 244 determines that the carrier gas will flow back. It is therefore possible to surely know that there is a possibility that a back-flow of the carrier gas will occur, by checking the determination result of the back-flow determination processor 244.

The present disclosure relates to a method performed in an interface system, the interface system comprising a reactor and a reaction-product-separator, the method comprising: (a) guiding a liquid containing analytes to and through the reactor and causing a component comprised by the analytes to react to a reaction product in the reactor, to thus create a post-reactor liquid comprising the reaction product, (b) guiding the post-reactor liquid from the reactor to the reaction-product-separator and through the reaction-product-separator, and separating the reaction product from the post-reactor liquid, to thus create a post-separator fluid, and (c) guiding at least one rinsing liquid through at least one of the reactor and the reaction-product-separator. The present invention also relates to an interface system, wherein the system is configured to perform the method, wherein the interface system comprises the reactor and the reaction-product-separator.

Systems and methods for automatically packing resin into and unpacking resin from a reusable separation column for sample analysis are described. A method embodiment includes, but is not limited to, introducing a slurry of resin to a reusable sample separation column to pack the reusable column with resin; introducing a sample solution to the reusable sample separation column; and unpacking the resin from the reusable sample separation column with a flow of liquid unpacking reagent and gaseous material.

Systems and methods for automatically packing resin into and unpacking resin from a reusable separation column for sample analysis are described. A method embodiment includes, but is not limited to, introducing a slurry of resin to a reusable sample separation column to pack the reusable column with resin; introducing a sample solution to the reusable sample separation column; and unpacking the resin from the reusable sample separation column with a flow of liquid unpacking reagent and gaseous material.