A sample preparation device is provided for enriching a component of a sample. The sample preparation device includes a surface in fluid communication with the sample, an alkylsilyl coating disposed on the surface, and an affinity ligand or an enzyme covalently bonded to the alkylsilyl coating.

A system for preparing a test sample includes a vial holder, a needle trap connected to the vial holder, and a sample preparation station. The vial holder includes a vial chamber configured to hold a vial, a purge gas needle, and a needle trap heater. The needle trap includes a needle with the needle trap heater surrounding a distal end portion of the needle. A packing bed is disposed in the needle at the distal end portion. The sample preparation station includes a housing and a vial heater assembly including a vial heater and defining a cavity. The vial holder is configured to be received in the cavity in an installed position with the vial heater surrounding at least a portion of the vial.

An online measuring system for the semi-volatile organic compounds in the gas phase is provided in the disclosure. The system comprises a filter head, a three-way electromagnetic valve, an enrichment-thermal desorption device, a two-position six-way valve, a mass flow controller, a gas pump, a gas chromatograph, a primary capture trap, a secondary focus trap, and a gas supply and pressure control system, the inlet of the filter head is connected to be provided with a sampling object, the outlet of the filter head is connected with the port B of the three-way electromagnetic valve through a passivated stainless steel tube, the port C of the three-way electromagnetic valve is connected with the inlet of the primary capture trap through a passivated stainless steel tube, and the port A of the three-way electromagnetic valve is connected to the gas supply and pressure control system through a passivated stainless steel tube.

An online measuring system for the semi-volatile organic compounds in the gas phase is provided in the disclosure. The system comprises a filter head, a three-way electromagnetic valve, an enrichment-thermal desorption device, a two-position six-way valve, a mass flow controller, a gas pump, a gas chromatograph, a primary capture trap, a secondary focus trap, and a gas supply and pressure control system, the inlet of the filter head is connected to be provided with a sampling object, the outlet of the filter head is connected with the port B of the three-way electromagnetic valve through a passivated stainless steel tube, the port C of the three-way electromagnetic valve is connected with the inlet of the primary capture trap through a passivated stainless steel tube, and the port A of the three-way electromagnetic valve is connected to the gas supply and pressure control system through a passivated stainless steel tube.

In order to achieve a system capable of analyzing a wide range of compounds while saving time and energy consumption, a progressive cellular architecture is presented for vapor collection and gas chromatographic separation. Each cell includes a preconcentrator and separation column that are adapted for collecting and separating compounds only within a specific volatility range. A wide volatility range can therefore be covered by the use of multiple cells that are cascaded in the appropriate order. The separation columns within each cell are short enough to reduce the heating and pumping requirements. The gas flow for vapor collection and separation is provided by low-power gas micropumps that use ambient air. The system is also configurable to incorporate capabilities of detecting and reducing vapor overload. The progressive cellular architecture directly address the compromise between low power and broad chemical analyses.

While sample extraction device including a sorbent is coupled to a sample vial containing a sample, a vacuum is drawn through the sample extraction device to evaporate the volatile matrix of the sample and carry volatilized target compounds of the sample to the sorbent. Optionally, once the volatile matrix is evaporated, the sample vial is heated and/or the vacuum level is increased to transfer heavier target compounds to the sorbent. Multiple sampling devices can be extracted in parallel. The sample extraction device can be inserted into a thermal desorption device that directly couples the sample extraction device to a gas chromatograph. In some embodiments, the sample is desorbed and analyzed using gas chromatography or another suitable technique. The techniques disclosed herein are used for analysis of volatile organic compounds and semi-volatile organic compounds in water, food, beverages, soils, and other matrices.

Methods are described for detecting or determining the amount of antidepressants and/or antidepressant metabolites in a sample. More specifically, mass spectrometric methods are described for detecting and quantifying antidepressants and/or antidepressant metabolites in a sample.

This invention relates to a micro-device for detecting volatile compounds comprising: an input (E) and an output (S); collection means (2) for taking a gas sample containing at least one compound to be detected; sampling means enabling a gas volume of 100 mL or less to be sampled, arranged after the collection means; injection means (3) of said gas sample; separation means (5) of the compound to be detected in the gas sample; compound detection means (6); and a gas circulation circuit (1) located downstream of the collection means and passing through the sampling means, injection means (3), separation means (5) and detection means (6);
characterized in that the gas circulation circuit (1) has a volume of between 0.2 cm.sup.3 and 2.0 cm.sup.3.

A sorbent tube apparatus (10) for high-pressure fluid sample analysis, the sorbent tube apparatus (10) comprising a pressurisable housing (32) having first and second fluid ports (48a, 48b) and defining a fluid chamber (34) therein; and a sorbent tube (12) mountable within the pressurisable housing (32), the sorbent tube (12) extending from one of the first and second fluid ports (48a) and spaced apart from the other of the first and second fluid ports (48b) to be in fluid communication with the fluid chamber (34), thereby enabling in use pressure equalisation between the sorbent tube (12) and fluid chamber (34). A method of analysing high-pressure fluid, an analytic probe apparatus, a further sorbent tube apparatus and method of preventing or limiting damage to a sorbent tube during high-pressure fluid sampling are also provided.

A system for preparing a test sample includes a vial holder, a needle trap connected to the vial holder, and a sample preparation station. The vial holder includes a vial chamber configured to hold a vial, a purge gas needle, and a needle trap heater. The needle trap includes a needle with the needle trap heater surrounding a distal end portion of the needle. A packing bed is disposed in the needle at the distal end portion. The sample preparation station includes a housing and a vial heater assembly including a vial heater and defining a cavity. The vial holder is configured to be received in the cavity in an installed position with the vial heater surrounding at least a portion of the vial.