Abstract: The breath, body fluids or skin secretions of persons contain numerous volatile substances at concentrations permitting their chemical analysis directly from surrounding ambient gas. Based on the different odor patterns revealed by such analyses for different individuals, a non-contact method is taught that permits the identification of persons and is relatively immune to evasion.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and a method for continuously removing water vapor from a closed loop, re-circulated gas flow in an ion mobility spectrometer using a water permeable membrane, having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The gas flow is disposed adjacent and carried past the first side to deposit water vapor that passes through the membrane to the second side. An exhaust flow is disposed adjacent and carried passed the second side of the membrane to remove the water vapor from the system. Therefore, the water removal apparatus continuously regenerates in-situ. Heaters, heat sinks and additional treatment systems including charcoal filters can also be included in the system to enhance its performance.

Abstract: A method of gas chromatograph mass spectrometry with a negative chemical ionization (NCI) process includes analyzing a standard substance for the NCI by deriving with a derivatization reagent a fatty acid with a multiple number of carbon atoms, measuring the standard substance for the NCI by negative chemical ionization, and obtaining a retention time for each of the number of carbon atoms. The method includes measuring, under a same condition, a standard sample of each of from one to a plurality of measurement object components by negative chemical ionization, and obtaining a respective retention time for each of the measurement object components, and obtaining a retention index for the NCI of each measurement object component using the respective retention time of the measurement object component, and the retention time of the standard substance. The index facilitates both correcting the retention time of each measurement object component, and identifying substances.

Abstract: An interface placed between a gas chromatograph part and a mass spectrometer part of a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer for allowing one or two columns to pass air-tightly from the gas chromatograph part to the mass spectrometer part. The interface includes: a heat-retention block having a small-diameter hole allowing two columns to pass through; a single-hole ferrule having a small-diameter hole allowing a single column to pass through; and a two-hole ferrule having two small-diameter holes allowing two columns to respectively pass through. An adapter is placed between the heat-retention block and the two-column nut. It includes a long large-diameter opening allowing two columns passing through the two-hole ferrule to converge on the small-diameter hole of the heat-retention block. The interface also includes a single-column nut for pressing the single-hole ferrule to the heat-retention block; and a two-column nut for pressing the two-hole ferrule to the adapter.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for real-time environmental gas sampling. A manifold is disclosed allowing for real-time gas sampling and monitoring/analysis of atomospheric over a wide range of oxygen contents, e.g., oxygen-rich as well as oxygen-deficient sampling environments in conjunction with mass-sepectrometric analysis achieving detection limits as low as single part per-billion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chromatograph/mass spectrometer capable of producing a composite chromatogram from plural chromatogram signals without causing the baseline level to rise or the intensity of the chromatogram peak to decrease. The chromatograph/mass spectrometer includes a chromatograph unit for separating a sample into components in the order of time, a mass spectrometer unit for analyzing the components of the sample, and a signal generator for producing a signal carrying a chromatogram obtained by the analysis. It also includes a chromatogram composer for receiving signals of plural chromatograms simultaneously measured under different conditions, for choosing the largest value of the plural signals for each point in time, and for integrating the chosen values to produce a composite chromatogram.

Abstract: The preparative liquid chromatograph uses a plurality of detectors including a mass spectrometer, and a chromatogram generator is provided for generating a plurality of chromatograms each corresponding to each of the plurality of detectors. The plurality of chromatograms are converted into a respective binary signal by comparing the chromatogram with a predetermined threshold, and a logical operator performs a binary operation on the plurality of respective binary signals, whereby a resultant binary signal is generated. A separation controller controls the fraction collector of the preparative liquid chromatograph based on the resultant binary signal to separate components from a sample. When “AND” is used as the binary operation, the resultant binary signal is “1” only when all the respective binary signals are “1”. This assures a high precision, high purity separation where an impurity mingling is minimized.

Abstract: A gas chromatography/mass spectrometry system includes two sample introduction parts, a gas chromatography part having two columns, a column oven for housing the two columns in a parallel configuration, an interface part through which an outlet end of each of the two columns is inserted, and a mass spectrometry part. The mass spectrometry part has an ionization chamber to which the outlet ends of the columns inserted through the interface part are connected, a mass separation part, an ion detector, and a vacuum chamber for housing the ionization chamber, the mass separation part, and the detector. Because the outlet ends of the parallel columns are both connected to the ionization chamber, the carrier gas flow and line velocity are the same as though there is one column, thereby avoiding line stagnation. Since analyses can be performed selectively with a single system, results having high reliability and precision can be obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and to an apparatus for providing gas for isotopic ratio analysis. According to the invention, a gas is generated from an eluate of a liquid chromatograph (LC). Subsequently, the gas is separated from the eluate. Finally, the gas is fed to an instrument (IRMS) for isotopic ratio analysis.

Abstract: A method for controlling production process by performing near-infrared absorptiometric analysis by simple procedures in an accurate manner, in which control of production process step can be realized at a high accuracy by simple operation based on the thereby obtained analytical results, the said method comprising taking each absorbance spectrum for a plurality of standard samples in an analysis range including near-infrared region, calculating the average intensity and standard deviations for each of selected wave lengths to construct a data base, taking an absorbance spectrum in the said analysis range for each of analysis samples and comparing it with the data base in order to judge whether or not the intensity of the absorbance spectrum is within an assumed tolerance limit determined based on the stored standard deviations of the standard samples in the data base to thereby obtain control data by comparing, when wave lengths at which the observed intensity is outside the tolerance limit are present, thes

Abstract: An instrument including a chromatographic column with a final detector and a mass spectrometer. A temperature of an interface including an output tube and a capillary tube adjusting the flow to the spectrometer is adjusted using a leakage flow or pressure sensor outputting data to a control module that adjusts the interface temperature to equalize flows in the tubes.

Abstract: Noxious emissions present in the exhaust gases of an internal-combustion engine of a motor vehicle are controlled by making use of an IR spectrophotometer provided on board the motor vehicle, for the purpose of obtaining an analysis of all the main components of the exhaust gases of the engine. The IR spectrophotometer is of the type with electrostatic micro-shutters so as to present overall dimensions designed to enable its use on board the motor vehicle.

Abstract: An evolved gas analysis system contains a first measurement step of heating a first sample containing measurement target material and non-measurement target material at a predetermined temperature programming rate and detecting the amount of gas evolved from the first sample; a second measurement step of heating a second sample achieved by excluding the measurement target material from the first sample at the same temperature increasing rate as the first measurement step, and detecting the amount of gas evolved from the second sample; and a correcting step of calculating the amount of gas evolved from the measurement target material on the basis of the detected data of the respective steps.

Abstract: A method for detecting substances or mixtures of substances within a sample in an apparatus for comprehensive two-dimensional gas-chromatographic analysis according to the present invention, comprising the steps of: subjecting the sample to a first separation within a first capillary column; modulating in time the effluents from the first column by means of the subdivision into adjacent fractions of the effluents from the first column and subsequently sending each fraction into a second capillary column, the modulation of the effluents being periodic with a first modulation frequency f1 of the sample; separating each of the fractions in the aforesaid second capillary column; and detecting, at the end of the second capillary column, the effluents by means of periodic sampling by discrete time points at a second frequency f2.

Abstract: A coupling device connecting the output of a microchromatograph (?CG) to the input of a mass spectrometer (MS), said coupling device comprising a capillary tube with one end connected in sealed fashion to the source under vacuum of the mass spectrometer through the intermediary of an interface device, and with the other end connected to the output of the microchromatograph, in slack fashion, open to the atmosphere; the length and the diameter of the capillary tube being chosen such that the flow rate inside the capillary tube is very close to the flow rate at the output from the microchromatograph; the interface device being, furthermore, provided with heating means for very precise adjustment of the flow rate registered by the capillary.

Abstract: To economically perform preparatory chromatography, a plurality of pumps each having a corresponding one of a plurality of pistons and a corresponding one of a plurality of cylinders are driven by one motor to draw and pump solvent simultaneously into corresponding columns. To form a gradient, the pumps are connected to two-way valves that are connected alternately to a first solvent and a second solvent, whereby the time said valve is in a first position controls the amount of solvent drawn from the first reservoir into said pumps and the amount of time in said second position controls the amount of said second solvent drawn from the second reservoir into said pumps and the solvent is mixed in the pumping systems. The detectors are photodiodes mounted to light guides in the flow cells that generate signals related to light absorbance and communicate with a controller, whereby the controller receives signals indicating solute between the light guides and causes collection of solute.

Abstract: A photoionization detector comprising multiple ionization cells for detecting the presence of chemical compounds in multiple fluid samples. The photoionization detector uses a single source of ultraviolet (UV) radiation to emit high energy photons into at least two ionization cells. Each ionization cell comprises at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet. Independent samples of fluid can be introduced into each cell and exposed to the UV radiation such that any molecules with an ionization energy lower that the energy of the photons are ionized. Each ionization cell also comprises a set of at least two electrodes arranged to generate an electric field such that ionized molecules are attracted to the electrode at lower voltage potential resulting in an electrical current.

Abstract: A method for determining magnitude and direction of spectral channel drift for several consecutive spectral regions over a wide spectral range. According to the method of the present invention, in-field testing of a spectral filter sequentially irradiated by two blackbody sources is performed to generate a response function of the spectral filter. The response function is ensemble averaged to reduce any noise. Background radiance is then removed to produce a smoothed spectral transmittance function of the spectral filter. The first derivative function of the smoothed spectral transmittance function is determined. The first derivative function is separated into spectral band regions having +/− N pixels on either side of the function minima. The value of N is selected to optimize the detection algorithm sensitivity to change while extending the limit of spectral shift magnitude.

Abstract: A method for detecting substances or mixtures of substances within a sample in an apparatus for comprehensive two-dimensional gas-chromatographic analysis according to the present invention, comprising the steps of:

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for detection of volatile products from a sample using a transducer which changes voltage as a function of contact of the volatile products with the transducer to produce a gas signature of the volatile products and a spectrophotometer to analyze the volatile products to produce a spectral footprint of the volatile products. The apparatus and method are used to detect spoilage of a biological material, such as a food. The apparatus is also used to detect microorganisms and by comparing the gas signature and spectral footprint to a library of gas signatures and spectral footprints, the apparatus enables identification of the microorganisms and in particular identification of pathogenic microorganisms.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring trace gases contained in a liquid or a gas using Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy. The apparatus comprises a chromatograph for separating a fluid into a plurality of gaseous components, the plurality of components are output from an output port of the gas chromatograph. A cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) unit is coupled to the output port of the gas chromatograph, and the CRDS unit determines at least one level of a trace species based on at least a portion of the plurality of gaseous components provided by the chromatograph.

Abstract: A coupling device connecting the output of a microchromatograph (&mgr;CG) to the input of a mass spectrometer (SM), said coupling device comprising a capillary tube with one end connected in sealed fashion to the source under vacuum of the mass spectrometer through the intermediary of an interface device, and with the other end connected to the output of the microchromatograph, in slack fashion, open to the atmosphere; the length and the diameter of the capillary tube being chosen such that the flow rate inside the capillary tube is very close to the flow rate at the output from the microchromatograph; the interface device being, furthermore, provided with heating means for very precise adjustment of the flow rate registered by the capillary.

Abstract: CO exposure is a serious public health problem in the U.S., causing both morbidity and mortality (lifetime mortality risk approximately 10−4). Sparse data from population-based CO exposure assessments indicate that approximately 10% of the U.S. population is exposed to CO above the National Ambient Air Quality Standard. No CO exposure measurement technology is available for affordable population-based CO exposure assessment studies. Two CO measuring devices, an occupational CO dosimeter (LOCD) and an indoor air quality (IAQ) passive sampler, were designed, developed, and tested both in the laboratories and field. Time-weighted-average CO exposure of the compact diffusion tube sampler containing a selective and non-regenerative palladium-molybdenum based CO sensor is quantified by using a simple spectrophotometer. Both devices are capable of measuring CO exposure precisely with relative standard deviation of less than 20% and with bias of less than 10%.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a gas sample is described. The method comprises providing a gas sample, increasing pressure applied to the gas sample to compress the sample to a smaller volume and provide a pneumatically focused gas sample, and analyzing the pneumatically focused gas sample using any of a variety of analytical techniques. Pneumatic Focusing generally means increasing the pressure of the sample, column or cell to a pressure of from about 100 psi to about 15,000 psi, more typically from about 200 psi to about 2,000 psi. Examples including gas chromatography and absorption spectroscopy are illustrated herein. Numerous other examples could be given. The method is well suited for analyzing gaseous samples, such as ambient air samples, both continuously, and remotely, using computer control. Continuously sampling ambient air provides a method for real-time monitoring of air quality. Continuous monitoring allows for pollutant exposure and allows for the identification of emission sources.

Abstract: In a respiratory air flow measuring monitor, a subassembly for analyzing certain respiratory gases through infrared spectroscopy includes an infrared emitter and an infrared detector, the amount of energy detected by the detector corresponding to the concentration of the gas selected for analysis. The subassembly includes a gas sample chamber that utilizes an elliptical reflecting surface for the infrared light source. The light source and detector are both oriented longitudinally along the axis of the ellipse and the light source and detector are each located at the two focal points of the ellipse in order to optimize the light absorption reading. The gas content analyzer subassembly additionally incorporates various compensatory features, allowing for automatic temperature and pressure compensation.

Abstract: An analyzing apparatus for assaying various kinds of trace impurity contents in various kinds of high-purity gases, having an atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometer useful for determination of trace impurity contents in such high-purity gases on the ppb to sub ppb levels and a gas chromatograph integrated therewith, enabling high efficiency determination of trace impurity contents in high-purity gases. The analyzing apparatus having a gas chromatograph (8) and an atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometer (6), is provided with a system (10) for introducing a sample gas introduced from a sample gas introduction source directly to the atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometer (6); a system (14a, 14b) for introducing the sample gas via the gas chromatograph (8) to the atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometer (6); and a channel selector (11, 13, 15) for changing over the channel of the sample gas to either of these two systems.

Abstract: In a respiratory air flow measuring monitor, a subassembly for analyzing certain respiratory gases through infrared spectroscopy includes an infrared emitter and an infrared detector, the amount of energy detected by the detector corresponding to the concentration of the gas selected for analysis. The subassembly includes a gas sample chamber that utilizes an elliptical reflecting surface for the infrared light source. The light source and detector are both oriented longitudinally along the axis of the ellipse and the light source and detector are each located at the two focal points of the ellipse in order to optimize the light absorption reading. The gas content analyzer subassembly additionally incorporates various compensatory features, allowing for automatic temperature and pressure compensation.

Abstract: A portable, lightweight (approximately 25 kg) gas chromatograph mass spectrometer, including the entire vacuum system, can perform qualitative and quantitative analyses of all sample types in the field. The GC/MS has a conveniently configured layout of components for ease of serviceability and maintenance. The GC/MS system can be transported under operating or near-operating conditions (i.e., under vacuum and at elevated temperature) to reduce the downtime before samples can be analyzed on-site.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to reduce the time needed to analyze data generated from very similar samples, emphasizing the differences obtained, from the combined technique of liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, a technique used to analyze the composition of materials. The method quickly compares each mass chromatogram between similar samples and displays the limited number of mass chromatograms that are different to the analyst.

Abstract: There are provided an apparatus for analyzing gases and a gas analyzing method which can securely detect presence and absence of leakage in a short time and which can carry out analyses successively, safely and accurately in a stable state. The apparatus for analyzing gases is provided with sample gas introducing systems (1 to 5) for introducing a plurality of sample gases selectively, and analyzers (6, 10 and 14), and also has means (9) for monitoring, when a sample gas under determination is changed over to another sample gas, change in the concentration of the sample gas component introduced before the change over.

Abstract: An apparatus and method by which tracer compounds and combustion products in the exhaust of an internal combustion engine are more completely combusted, so that oil consumption of the engine can be more precisely and concurrently measured on a real-time basis using tunable diode laser spectroscopy. The apparatus includes a furnace capable of completely burning nonradioactive stable organobromo compounds and combustion products within the exhaust gas of the engine, without being reactive with the compounds or the resulting tracer gas or isotopic specie of the compounds. The furnace generally has at least one passage through which the exhaust gas passes. The wall surfaces of the passage are formed of a material with a high concentration of titanium, such that the exhaust gas is substantially limited to contact with the high-Ti material while within the furnace.

Abstract: A transparent sheet 11 for transmitting an infrared ray therethrough is formed by laminating a PET sheet 5 on which a anti-fogging layer 4 can be formed easily and a PP sheet 12 with good infrared ray transmission property, thereby to make the thickness of the transparent window larger.

Abstract: Integrated analysis process and device for characterization of hydrocarbons in a petroleum product, in distillation fractions, by simulated distillation. The hydrocarbons of a petroleum sample are characterized without fractional distillation by coupling gas chromatography (GC) with liquid chromatography (LC) techniques. GC simulated distillation (SD) is carried out. The separation column is preceded by a precolumn of the same nature but shorter. At the outlet of the main column, retention means (CT, AC) allow to collect and to store one or more light fractions that are sent each to a GC analytical column (6) allowing detailed analysis of the hydrocarbons, and one or more middle fractions. The remaining heavy fraction is collected at the precolumn outlet. The middle and heavy fractions are characterized by a combined LC-GC chromatography unit. Several interfaces allowing GC-GC-LC-GC coupling are described.

Abstract: A method for diagnosis of components inside a turbine generator includes collecting and measuring organic substances present in a gas inside the turbine generator to obtain data (first data). Before the collecting, organic substances generated from each component inside the turbine generator due to heat, discharge, corrosion, or friction, are measured to compile data (second data). The first data is compared to the second data to determine whether the first data includes the same data as in the second data to detect deterioration of the components inside the turbine generator.