Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating and analyzing a component of a fluid sample that is considered to be a contaminant, and particularly, that is or may be an organic material. The invention is predicated on the introduction of the sample fluid in a pulsed manner via a first carrier fluid into a feed chamber. A membrane is located between the feed chamber and an exit chamber, and in fluid registry therewith. When the sample enters the feed chamber, the component to be separated and analyzed can permeate the membrane, and thus passes through the membrane to the exit chamber, and then enters a second carrier fluid which carries it to a detector for analysis. The detector may be a gas chromatograph (GC), mass spectrometer (MS) or the like.

Abstract: A device and method for the continuous on-line or discrete off-line concentration and measurement of organic compound contaminants in a fluid sample stream is disclosed, in which an adsorbent trap means, which may be a tube of metal packed with an adsorbent composition such as a carbon-based composition, is used to adsorb the organic compound contaminants, while venting out permanent gases, such as CO, CO2, N2, O2, NO2, SO2, CH4, and H2O. The adsorbent trap means is capable of rapid heating and cooling, and when a pulse of electrical energy or microwave energy is applied thereto, the adsorbed organic compound contaminants are rapidly desorbed therefrom; after which they are carried to a detector means for measuring the organic compound contaminants. Embodiments are included in which gas chromatography (GC) is not employed.

Abstract: A device and method for the continuous on-line or discrete off-line concentration and measurement of organic compound contaminants in a fluid sample stream is disclosed, in which an adsorbent trap means, which may be a tube of metal packed with an adsorbent composition such as a carbon-based composition, is used to adsorb the organic compound contaminants, while venting out permanent gases, such as CO, CO.sub.2, N.sub.2, O.sub.2, NO.sub.2, SO.sub.2, CH.sub.4, and H.sub.2 O. The adsorbent trap means is capable of rapid heating and cooling, and when a pulse of electrical energy or microwave energy is applied thereto, the adsorbed organic compound contaminants are rapidly desorbed therefrom; after which they are carried to a detector means for measuring the organic compound contaminants. Embodiments are included in which gas chromatography (GC) is not employed.

Abstract: A method and device for the continuous monitoring of very low level concentrations of materials such as volatile organic compound (VOC) pollutant levels in a fluid (gaseous or liquid) stream, including stack gases and waste water. The fluid stream passes through an on-line micro sorbent trap (OLMT) for entrapment of VOCs. The pollutants are concentrated in the OLMT and electrically rapidly heated to simulate an injection into a gas chromatograph system or other detector. The concentration and heating steps are effected at predetermined time intervals and temperature conditions with correlation to known fluid flow rates. Pollutants separate in the chromatographic column with a chromatograph being obtained with each injection for identification of pollutants and respective pollution levels. Alternatively, without chromatograph, a single peak is obtained which represents the total quantity of pollutants in the fluid stream.