An integrated microfluidic photoionization detector (PID) is provided including a microfluidic ionization chamber a microfluidic ultraviolet radiation chamber that is configured to generate ultraviolet photons. An ultrathin transmissive window is disposed between the microfluidic ionization chamber and the microfluidic ultraviolet radiation chamber that permits the ultraviolet photons to pass from the microfluidic ultraviolet radiation chamber into the microfluidic ionization chamber. Detection systems for one or more VOC analytes are also provided that include a gas chromatography (GC) unit including at least one gas chromatography column and an integrated microfluidic photoionization detector (PID) disposed downstream of the gas chromatography (GC) unit.

A method of cleaning a detection cell of an electron capture detector in which the detection cell includes a radiation source that emits radiation, a sample gas introduction port through which a sample gas is introduced, and a collector electrode, includes: introducing a cleaning gas into the detection cell of the electron capture detector.

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 photoionization detector comprised of a gas discharge lamp that ionizes molecules of interest to create ionized molecules and electrons and a sensor having at least one opening for UV light to pass through and electrically conductive patterns on the top and bottom surfaces of the plate. A negative electrical potential pattern can be on one of the top or the bottom surface and can include an interior portion that is at least a first distance away from every edge of the at least one opening. An electron collecting electrode pattern can be on the other of the top or the bottom surface and can substantially fill an area surrounding the opening such that the negative electrical potential pattern and the electron collecting electrode pattern are offset relative to each other. The ionized molecules are collectable by a bias electrode and electrons are collectable by a collector electrode.

A photo-ionization detector (PID) including a UV source; an ionization chamber for receiving sample gas; a plurality of electrodes, including a first electrode, for detecting gaseous analyte ionized in the ionization chamber; a controller; and at least one sensor in electronic communication with the controller for measuring a condition of the sample gas, and methods of using the same.

A rapid flow-through, highly sensitive microfluidic photoionization detector (PID) which is micro-fabricated directly onto a substrate, such as a conductive silicon wafer, is provided. The microfluidic PID has an ionization chamber volume of less than 9 L. The microfluidic PID may have a flow through design with a microfluidic channel defines a serpentine pattern on the substrate. The flow through design of the microfluidic PID results in negligible dead volume, thus allowing a shortened response time over existing commercially available designs. Such microfluidic PIDs are particularly useful with gas chromatography (GC), including microGC and multi-dimensional microGC systems. Methods for calibrating PIDs are also provided.

A process for detecting an operating state of a photoionization detector (1) with a lamp (6) for generating ultraviolet light. The Process comprises the following steps: changing an operating voltage of the photoionization detector (1) in a voltage range and measuring a resulting operating current (20, 21) of the photoionization detector (1), evaluating an operating state of the photoionization detector (1) on the basis of a course of the operating current (20, 21), and generating a result value which has at least one piece of information about the operating state of the photoionization detector (1) in relation to a switched-on state of the lamp (6). The invention also relates to a photoionization detector (1) with a device (2) and a gas measuring device (30) with a photoionization detector (1) and a device (35), which are designed to carry out the process.

A discharge-based photo ionisation detector (PID) for use with gas chromatography systems is provided. The PID includes a discharge zone in which a plasma can be generated, resulting in the emission of energetic photons. The PID further includes an ionisation zone in which the gas sample to be analysed is bombarded by the photons created in the discharge zone, photo ionising the impurities in the gas sample. The generated current is measured in order to measure the concentration of impurities in the gas sample. Plasma localizing of the plasma in the discharge zone and optical monitoring of the emission from the plasma in the discharge zone may be provided. Methods using such a PID with a split input from a chromatography column or with inputs from two different chromatography columns are provided.

It is a method for measuring surface carbon level of an inorganic solid, comprising heating under oxygen containing atmosphere an inorganic solid stored in an airtight container, suitably an airtight container having a structure wherein a part of a wall surface of the airtight container is extended in the outer direction to form an extended part, and an opening for inorganic solid which is openable and closable by a lid material is provided on an outer end surface of the extended part, and a standard sealing material made of synthetic rubber is intervened on a contact surface with the wall surface of the outer end surface of the extended part of the lid material, to burn the surface, analyzing carbon dioxide level in the container atmosphere after burning by gas chromatography method, and obtaining carbon level of the inorganic solid surface from the obtained result of analysis.

A method and apparatus for detecting mercury in air includes passing a substantial quantity of air through a concentrator column containing gold film whereby a gold-mercury amalgam is formed, purging the concentrator column with nitrogen gas for a predefined period of time to remove oxygen and other organics from the concentrator column, quickly heating the concentrator column to a substantial temperature to decompose the gold-mercury amalgam forming mercury gas, and injecting the mercury gas into a photoionization detector system. The apparatus includes a quartz housing having a quartz body defining an internal volume, a gas inlet, a gas outlet, and a heater end, and a concentrator element sealingly disposed within the quartz housing, the concentrator element having a first element portion and a second element portion, a film of gold deposited on at least a first element portion disposed in the quartz body.