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.

A sample introduction device includes a tube holding unit 10, a tube heating unit 20, and a movement mechanism 30. The tube holding unit 10 holds a sample tube 1. The tube heating unit 20 comes into contact with the sample tube 1 held in the tube holding unit 10 and heats the sample tube 1 to desorb sample components in the sample tube 1. The tube holding unit 10 and the tube heating unit 20 are attached to the movement mechanism 30 so as to be able to move separately. The movement mechanism 30 includes a nut 32 which can be attached to and detached from the tube holding unit 10 and the tube heating unit 20, and a support shaft 31 which supports the nut 32 such that the nut 32 can move.

The present disclosure related to a method for screening compounds having the ability to prevent, treat or reduce malodor development on body surfaces. In particular, the method screens for compounds having the ability of preventing sweat malodor development caused by malodor causing volatile acid compounds and/or malodor causing volatile sulphur compounds. The present disclosure is based on a sensitive analytical method to determine the presence of the precursors of malodor causing volatile acid compounds and/or malodor causing volatile sulphur compounds present in sweat, which are metabolised by bacteria, such as, for example, Cornebacteria or Staphylococci to malodor causing volatile acid compounds and malodor causing volatile sulphur compounds.

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 automated ambient air sampling system and method for monitoring organic compounds that may provide continuous data, the system including a thermal desorption system, an injection port, a pre-concentration system, a gas chromatograph and an ion trap mass spectrometer, wherein an air sampling chamber may also function as a thermal desorption chamber.

A microscale collector and injector device comprises a microscale passive pre-concentrator (PP) and a microscale progressively-heated injector (PHI). The PP devices comprises first and second substrate portions, a first collection material, a PP heater, and an outlet. The first substrate portion defines an array of microscale diffusion channels. The first and second substrate portions cooperate to define a first compartment in fluid communication with the diffusion channels. The first collection material is disposed within the first compartment, at least partially surrounding the outlet. The PP heater is disposed in thermal communication with the second substrate portion. The PHI device comprises third and fourth substrate portions, a second collection material, and a plurality of PHI heaters. The third and fourth substrate portions cooperate to define a second compartment. The second collection material is disposed within the second compartment. The PHI heaters are disposed in thermal communication with the second compartment.

A carrier gas flow path of at least from a trap to an analyzing portion is shared between a state wherein a sample component is trapped within the trap and a state wherein the sample component is not trapped within the trap. In this case, even after the sample has been introduced into the analyzing portion through the carrier gas flow path, there is a time interval over which the carrier gas flows within the carrier gas flow path. This makes it possible, through the carrier gas that flows within the carrier gas flow path afterward, to remove the sample component from within the flow path, despite there being a sample component within the carrier gas flow path at the time of sample introduction, thus making it possible to prevent the sample component from remaining within the flow path after sample introduction.

The present disclosure related to a method for screening compounds having the ability to prevent, treat or reduce malodor development on body surfaces. In particular, the method screens for compounds having the ability of preventing sweat malodor development caused by malodor causing volatile acid compounds and/or malodor causing volatile sulphur compounds. The present disclosure is based on a sensitive analytical method to determine the presence of the precursors of malodor causing volatile acid compounds and/or malodor causing volatile sulphur compounds present in sweat, which are metabolised by bacteria, such as, for example, Cornebacteria or Staphylococci to malodor causing volatile acid compounds and malodor causing volatile sulphur compounds.

The present disclosure is directed to methods and systems for detecting a chemical substance. The methods and systems include using gas-solid phase chemistry to chemically and/or physically modify a substance of interest so that the substance can be vaporized and detected through an analysis of the substance.

According to embodiments of the technology, an automated thermal desorption system includes a sample tube including a chamber to contain an analyte, visible indicia on the sample tube, a thermal desorption apparatus, and a sample tube monitoring system. The thermal desorption apparatus is configured to receive the sample tube and includes a heating device. The heating device is configured to heat the sample tube in the thermal desorption apparatus and thereby desorb the analyte from the sample tube. The sample tube monitoring system includes: an optical sensor configured to read the visible indicia on the sample tube and to generate an output signal corresponding thereto; and a controller configured to receive the output signal corresponding to the visible indicia from the optical sensor and to determine an orientation of the sample tube with respect to the thermal desorption apparatus based on the output signal.