Abstract: A system for molecular detection improves accuracy and precision of detection of molecular substances relative to other detection systems. The components, temperature, pressure, and materials used in the system allow the precise and accurate measurements of the present invention. The invention also relates to methods for using the system to detect and analyze components of a gas.

Abstract: Analytes are rapidly desorbed from a carbonaceous sorbent powder with improved quantitation and reduced analyte re-adsorption, thermal degradation, and rearrangement. The sample is distributed in a thin layer onto a desorption surface within a chamber. The layer can be a monolayer. Heating light irradiates the sample through a window, directly and rapidly heating the sample while the desorbed analytes diffuse into a vacuum or are removed by a carrier gas. Finally, the sorbent is flushed from the chamber by a transport gas. The desorption surface can be an inner surface of the window, or a surface of a porous frit that divides the chamber into two sections. The frit can be stainless steel or glass. The carrier gas can be helium, argon, or carbon dioxide. The light source can be a tungsten halogen lamp. A heater can control the chamber temperature according to a heating profile.

Abstract: A system and method for sampling fluid from a top land piston crevice of a reciprocating piston engine. Access into the crevice is via a length of tubing inserted into a bore through the piston wall. Two valves, first a relief valve and then a piloted check valve, operate together to capture a sample of fluid from the crevice at a time just before TDC of the piston on its compression stroke. The sampled fluid flows from the check valve into a sample container. The valves further cooperate to close fluid communication from the crevice after a sample is taken, which allows the engine to operate normally.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transfer unit for analysis devices, containing a tube-shaped assembly which can be heated by an electric heater in a programmed manner, a tube (6) which is arranged in the sample chamber (18) and into which the end of a gas chromatographic separating column can be inserted at the end of said tube, and means for introducing carrier gas into the tube (6), said transfer unit being characterized in that a temperature sensor (8) is arranged in the ring chamber (5) between the inner wall of the assembly and the evaporator tube (6). The transfer unit can be a sample introduction device for a gas chromatograph having a sample introduction head (18), and the assembly can be a sample introduction chamber in which an evaporator tube is provided, wherein the end of a gas chromatographic separating column can be inserted into the end facing away from the sample introduction head (18).

Abstract: A device and method for contamination-free transfer of samples is described. The device comprises an elongated member having an internal cavity and pressure-sensitive region. The internal cavity is in communication with at least a first open end of the elongated member. The pressure-sensitive region is disposed at a first distance from the first open end thereby forming a sampling portion of the device. The portion between the pressure-sensitive region and the second end forms a handling portion of the device. The pressure-sensitive region provides a stress concentration that increases the sensitivity to pressure. The device is used by contacting a sample with the first open end thereby causing sample to be received into the internal cavity of the sampling portion. The device is then inserted into a receiving container for use in the desired chemical analysis instrument.

Abstract: Plungers and plunger assemblies for a diaphragm-sealed valve are provided. Each plunger is adapted to be received in a passage of the valve body and includes a base member and an upper member having a longitudinal play in this passage with respect to the base member. A resilient middle element is provided between the upper and base member. The base member is connected to a plunger actuating mechanism within the valve body. Optionally, the upper member may be self-aligning within the passage. The plunger can be used to compensate for temperature variations experienced by the valve in use.

Abstract: Techniques for sampling a subsurface reservoir include lowering a downhole logging tool comprising one or more samplers, a cleaner system, and a sample probe bit into a borehole until at least one sampler is positioned correctly in a subterranean reservoir; advancing the cleaner system into the reservoir cleaning mud filtrate and contaminated reservoir material away into a mud column; advancing the sample probe bit into the reservoir; and solvent is injected into the reservoir from the solvent reservoir.

Abstract: A gas chromatography device adapted for detecting leakage of hydrogen gas without using an air pump and long piping is provided. The gas chromatography device includes: a column oven having a housing, a column disposed in the housing, and a heater heating air in the housing; a sample vaporization chamber supplying a sample to an inlet end of the column; a carrier gas supply section supplying a carrier gas to the sample vaporization chamber; a detector connected to an outlet end of the column; a controller controlling the heater and the carrier gas supply section; and a hydrogen gas detecting sensor. The carrier gas is hydrogen gas. A through hole is formed in the housing and a material that allows hydrogen to pass through but does not transmit heat is disposed in the through hole. The hydrogen gas detecting sensor is disposed near the through hole outside the housing.

Abstract: A large volume preconcentrator device for concentrating analytes. A housing accepts an analyte vapor flow, and a plurality of collection surfaces are disposed within the housing. A selectively actuatable heater is disposed on each of the plurality of collection surfaces. At least one selectively actuatable damper is disposed within the housing for selectively restricting a collection flow.

Abstract: The subject technology is directed to a CO2-based chromatography system and method for rapid determination of the levels and/or the presence or absence of polymer additives (PAs) leachable or extractable from packing materials or implantable medical devices.

Abstract: A method for sensing analyte. The method includes the steps of sensing one or more parameters in reaction to the presence of one or more analytes and outputting a current therefrom in accordance with level of the sensed parameter by each of a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors being provided in one or more sensor array columns, selectively heating one or more of the sensor array columns by a heating element, and receiving an output current from one of the plurality of sensors from each of the plurality of sensor arrays by a Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) arranged in a VCO array. The method further includes the steps of generating an output oscillation frequency by each VCO in accordance with the level of the received output current, and counting a number of oscillations over a predetermined time received from each of the plurality of VCOs in the VCO array by a plurality of counters arranged in a counter array.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for quantitatively analyzing gases as a monitor for on-load tap changers. The general inventive concept lies in selecting particular characteristic gases allowing an indirect subsequent association and a dimension for aging effects, excessive discharge, and/or heating of the on-load tap changer; measuring said characteristic gases, formed during the operation of the tap changer in the insulating oil thereof, at particular time intervals; forming indicative quotients from the measured values of the defined gases, said quotients allowing direct conclusions about aging effects, excessive discharge, and/or heating; displaying trends from a comparison of the currently derived value of each quotient to the most recently derived value for the same quotient; and inferring warnings for aging effects, excessive discharge, and/or heating if the corresponding quotients tend to change significantly over time or in the course of the switch changes made.

Abstract: A system for performing a flash separation of a reservoir fluid includes a sample chamber configured to hold the reservoir fluid and a flash apparatus in fluid communication with the sample chamber. The flash apparatus includes a microfluidic device configured to flash the reservoir fluid in fluid communication with the sample chamber, and a separation chamber configured to separate the flashed reservoir fluid into a liquid phase and a gaseous phase in fluid communication with the microfluidic device. The system further includes a gas receptacle configured to store the gaseous phase. A method for performing a flash separation of a reservoir fluid includes providing a reservoir fluid to a microfluidic device, urging the reservoir fluid through the microfluidic device such that the reservoir fluid is lashed within the microfluidic device, and separating a liquid phase and a gaseous phase from the flashed reservoir fluid.

Abstract: An inlet liner is provided for use in an inlet assembly of a chromatograph system. The inlet liner has an elongate tube that extends along a longitudinal axis and defines a bore that extends along the longitudinal axis and has an inner bore surface. At least one projection extends from the inner bore surface into the bore. Chromatograph systems are provided including the exemplary inlet liner(s). Methods are also provided for analyzing a sample containing a matrix in a chromatograph system having an inlet assembly connected to a chromatograph column. The method includes positioning an exemplary inlet liner in the inlet assembly, flowing the sample through the inlet liner, and adhering a portion of the matrix to a projection surface of at least one projection of the inlet liner.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a substrate with a fluid-handling assembly coupled to the substrate, the fluid-handling assembly including a plurality of fluid-handling components removably coupled to the substrate and removably coupled to each other. The plurality of fluid handling components includes a gas chromatograph having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a detector array having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, wherein the fluid inlet of the detector array is fluidly coupled to the fluid outlet of the gas chromatograph. A control circuit is communicatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of fluid-handling components, and a readout circuit communicatively coupled to the detector array and to the control circuit. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A gas chromatograph operable to analyze a sample gas comprising a carrier gas and components. The gas chromatograph includes a bridge circuit with a sample sensor connected therein. A servo amplifier is connected to the bridge circuit and is operable to maintain the sample sensor at a constant temperature. An output of the servo amplifier is digitized and is used to quantify the components in the sample gas.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for identifying the compounds contributing to urine odor emitting from an air conditioner, a method for artificially reproducing the detected urine odor, and preparing a corresponding urine odor composition. Through the analysis method of the present invention, the compounds contributing to the urine odor emitted from an air conditioner may be identified and quantified. The detected urine odor may be reproduced from a combination of the compounds identified by the analysis method of the present invention. The reproduced urine odor may provide meaningful data required for development of an apparatus and a method for removing specific odor.

Abstract: A method of extracting an analyte from a sample is described. The sample is added to a sample container. A liquid solvent and a gas are added into the sample container. The addition of the gas is controlled to establish an elevated pressure within the sample container. The liquid solvent is heated to an elevated temperature that is below the boiling temperature of the liquid solvent at the elevated pressure. A type of gas is used that does not transition to a supercritical fluid at the elevated temperature and pressure used in the extraction process. The analyte can dissolve from the solid sample into the liquid solvent. Next, at least a portion of the liquid solvent containing the dissolved analyte can be removed from the sample container for subsequent analysis.

Abstract: Method for chromatographic analysis of a hydrogen-containing gas mixture, wherein a first dose of the gas mixture is guided through a separation device using helium as a carrier gas during a first measurement pass and concentrations of separated components are measured, the concentration of the hydrogen in the gas mixture is measured and the measurement value is obtained up to an upper limit value in the range from 5% to 6%, and a second dose of the same gas mixture is guided through the separation device using the same carrier gas during a second measurement pass, wherein as compared to the first measurement pass the dose is reduced, the gas mixture is volumetrically diluted and/or the carrier-gas speed is reduced, and the hydrogen concentration is re-measured, and the measurement value obtained during the first measurement pass is verified against the measurement value obtained in the second measurement pass.

Abstract: A sleeve unit for preparing a sample for gas chromatographic analysis comprises an inlet liner having a bore therein, an inlet to the bore, and an outlet from the bore, and an inlet liner insert located with the bore. The inlet liner insert extends across the bore to cause a sample being prepared for gas chromatographic analysis to flow through the inlet liner insert. The inlet liner insert comprises an arrangement of wire, the arrangement creating a restricted pathway for the sample as the sample flows through the bore of the inlet liner to the outlet of the bore, and the wire having a surface having a high thermal conductivity and being substantially chemically inert to the sample.

Abstract: The invention provides improved methods and apparatus for fluid chromatography, and is particularly appropriate to high-pressure liquid chromatography carried out using eluent flow rates less than 1 ?l/minute, for example on nanoflow columns. In both single- and multi-dimensional chromatography systems, especially those comprising trapping media to facilitate injection of relatively large volumes of sample on to nanoflow columns, the on-line addition of a diluting solvent enables stronger eluents and sample solvents to be employed without causing premature release of analytes from the trapping media or the degradation of the second dimension chromatographic separation. The invention may be advantageously used for two-dimension reverse phase/reverse phase separations, especially for the separation of complex mixtures of peptides.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for verifying the age of an animal providing meat using volatile profiles that comprises the step of providing a sample of animal meat. The method uses one or more chemical analyses to obtain a profile of a set of volatile organic compounds from a sample of meat from an animal. The profile is fit to a mathematically discriminating function resulting. The data obtained is analyzed in order to establish a correlation between the age of the animal (tooth development) and volatiles exuded by meat.

Abstract: A method for determining the styrene microblock content of a copolymer sample, the method comprising: (i) pyrolyzing the copolymer sample to form polymer fragments of the polymer sample; (ii) analyzing the fragments to determine the relative amounts of styrene monomer fragments, styrene dimer fragments, and styrene trimer fragments, where the relative amounts of the fragments include the amount of any given fragment relative to the total of the monomer fragments, dimer fragments, and trimer fragments; and (iii) using the relative amounts of the styrene monomer fragments, styrene dimer fragments, and styrene trimer fragments to predict the polystyrene microblock content from a mathematical model that is based upon the relative styrene monomer fragments, relative styrene dimer fragments, relative styrene trimer fragments, and microblock content of a copolymer having known microblock content.

Abstract: An analyzer analyzing a fluid containing at least one substance to be analyzed and at least one inflammable substance containing a source of gas to provide a flux of diluent gas, an injecting nozzle for introducing samples of the fluid into the flux of diluent gas and for producing a gaseous flux, and a detector for analyzing the gaseous flux, where the source of gas is intended to deliver a flux of diluent gas containing a material capable of supporting the combustion of the inflammable substance, preferably to deliver a flux of air, the injection nozzle is configured so as to introduce into the diluent gas samples of the fluid such that the average volume fraction of the fluid in the gaseous flux is less than 1/2,000 and preferably less than 1120,000, and the detector contains at least one microsensor for detecting the substance to be analyzed.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the field of toxicological assessments for risk stratification of chemical compounds. Specifically, it relates to a method for diagnosing liver toxicity. It also relates to a method of determining whether a compound is capable of inducing such liver toxicity in a subject and to a method of identifying a drug for treating liver toxicity. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a data collection comprising characteristic values of at least five metabolites, a data storage medium comprising said data collection, and a system and a device for diagnosing liver toxicity. Finally, the present invention pertains to the use of a group of metabolites or means for the determination thereof for the manufacture of a diagnostic device or composition for diagnosing liver toxicity in a subject. For each sex, a different metabolome pattern, i.e. a different set of analytes is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of operating a switching valve of a GC-MS apparatus is provided with installing a sample injector; connecting a first capillary column downstream of the sample injector; installing a heart-cutting unit downstream of the first capillary column; installing a first interconnecting column and a second capillary column to the heart-cutting unit respectively; connecting a switching valve to the heart-cutting unit via a first interconnecting column and a second capillary column respectively wherein the switching valve includes a plurality of ports; connecting the switching valve to an MS via a second interconnecting column; and switching ports to create different sample loops for passing compounds from the heart-cutting unit to the MS or passing compounds from the heart-cutting unit to the discharge column to be purged.

Abstract: A gas sample introduction device for introducing sample gas to a gas analyzer includes a measuring tube, a sample gas supply flow path for introducing the sample gas to the measuring tube, a carrier gas supply flow path for introducing carrier gas to the measuring tube, an exhaust flow path for discharging the gas passing through the measuring tube to outside, and a collecting tube for absorbing a component in the sample gas. A first flow path switching device switches between a first state in which the measuring tube is inserted between the sample gas supply flow path and the exhaust flow path, and a second state in which the measuring tube is inserted between the carrier gas supply flow path and the gas analyzer. A second flow path switching device switches between a collecting-tube inserted state and a collecting-tube short-circuited state in which the collecting tube is not inserted.

Abstract: A technology for collecting a granular substance adhering to a baggage with high rate without touching the substance and inspecting whether a dangerous or specific sample material is adhered to the baggage. A method for simplifying or automating such an inspection is also provided. An adhering matter inspection equipment (1) is characterized in that the equipment comprises a collecting section (5) for collecting a sample material peeled off from an inspection object (25) whereupon the sample material is adhered by blowing compression gas through a capturing filter (52), and an inspecting section (2) for analyzing the sample material captured by the capturing filter (52), and further characterized in that the inspection equipment comprises a section (3) for delivering a baggage to the inspecting section (2), and a carrying section (4) for carrying the capturing filter (52) from the capturing section (5) to the inspecting section (2).

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting semivolatile organic chemicals (SOCs) from an atmosphere comprising a housing having an inlet and an outlet and at least one diffusion denuder contained in the housing. The diffusion denuder having a plurality of capillaries coated with a stationary phase for capturing gaseous semivolatile organic compounds (SOCs).

Abstract: Certain aspects and examples are directed to sorbent devices and methods of using them. In certain embodiments, a sorbent device comprising a body comprising a sampling inlet, a base and a longitudinal diffusion path between the inlet and the base is provided. In some embodiments, the sorbent device can include at least two sorbent materials fluidically coupled to the longitudinal diffusion path, in which the sorbent materials are arranged from a material with a weakest sorbent strength to a material with a strongest sorbent strength with the weakest sorbent strength material adjacent to the sampling inlet.

Abstract: In gas chromatographic analysis, the consumption of a sample and the consumption of a carrier gas are reduced. In a direct injection unit (8), a small-capacity syringe (11) having a volume that exceeds 0 ?l and is less than or equal to 0.5 ?l , and a small-capacity insert (7) having a volume that exceeds 0 ml and is less than or equal to 0.4 ml are used. Besides, in a split injection unit (28), a small-capacity syringe (11) having a volume that exceeds 0 ?l and is less than or equal to 0.5 ?l and a small-capacity insert (7) having a volume that exceeds 0 ml and is less than or equal to 0.4 ml are used, and the split ratio during analysis is less than or equal to 3.

Abstract: A gas chromatography device adapted for detecting leakage of hydrogen gas without using an air pump and long piping is provided. The gas chromatography device includes: a column oven having a housing, a column disposed in the housing, and a heater heating air in the housing; a sample vaporization chamber supplying a sample to an inlet end of the column; a carrier gas supply section supplying a carrier gas to the sample vaporization chamber; a detector connected to an outlet end of the column; a controller controlling the heater and the carrier gas supply section; and a hydrogen gas detecting sensor. The carrier gas is hydrogen gas. A through hole is formed in the housing and a material that allows hydrogen to pass through but does not transmit heat is disposed in the through hole. The hydrogen gas detecting sensor is disposed near the through hole outside the housing.

Abstract: A pre-concentration device is provided for a gas analysis system (10) for collecting molecular contamination in a vacuum environment (11). The pre-concentration device (13) comprises a hollow element (15) having an entrance opening (20) for receiving molecules from the vacuum environment (11) in a collection phase, a gas outlet for transferring collected molecules to a vacuum compatible detector or second preconcentration device in a transfer phase. The device has an inner wall for adsorbing molecules in the collection phase and desorbing molecules in the transfer phase. The device has a filler element (14) that is movable from a first position outside the hollow element in the collection phase to a second position inside the hollow element in the transfer phase which second position leaves open a transfer channel to the gas outlet along the inner wall.

Abstract: In order to provide an elemental analyzer that, without providing a buffer tank, can cope with measurements of a low concentration sample to a high concentration sample on the basis of a simple configuration, the elemental analyzer is provided with: an extraction furnace 1 adapted to heat a sample contained in a crucible R, and gasify an element contained in the sample into sample gas; an introduction flow path L1 adapted to introduce carrier gas into the extraction furnace 1; a lead-out flow path L2 adapted to, from the extraction furnace, lead out mixed gas in which the sample gas and the carrier gas are mixed; an elemental analysis part 3 that is provided in the lead-out flow path L2 and analyzes elements contained in the mixed gas; a bypass flow path L3 that branches from the introduction flow path L1 and joins the lead-out flow path L2; and a valve 4 that is provided in the bypass flow path L3 and can adjust an opening level.

Abstract: A gas chromatograph comprising two separating devices disposed one behind the other, and through which a material sample is conducted by a carrier gas. A pressure regulator regulates the pressure of the carrier gas introduced into the first separating device. A controllable switching device is arranged between the two separating devices. The switching device contains a main gas path lying between the two separating devices and two auxiliary gas paths, which are connected to the main gas path through connecting gas paths and are both fed with the carrier gas and contain flow resistors and a controllable valve for setting different pressure conditions. The auxiliary gas paths are supplied with the carrier gas through the same pressure regulator to reduce the design and adjustment effort in setting the pressure conditions, where fixed resistors are used for the flow resistors.

Abstract: Composite sampling of a fluid flowing through a conduit includes collecting, in a vessel coupled to the conduit through which the fluid is flowing, a first discrete sample of fluid from the conduit, the first discrete sample having a first selected volume, and collecting, in the vessel and at a first interval from the first sample, a second discrete sample of the fluid from the conduit, the second discrete sample having a second selected volume, thereby forming a composite sample in the vessel while the vessel is coupled to conduit. The composite sample includes the first discrete sample and the second discrete sample, and may include one or more additional discrete samples. An apparatus for collecting the composite sample includes a gas chromatograph, and is arranged such that the composite sample is provided to the gas chromatograph without removing the composite sample from the apparatus or transporting the composite sample.

Abstract: Apparatus and systems, as well as methods, may operate to draw a formation fluid sample into a sampling port included in a down hole tool or tool body, to vaporize some part of the fluid sample to substantially fill an injection port with a gas phase, to differentiate gas components in the gas phase to provide differentiated gas components along a concentration gradient in a receiving section, to detect the differentiated gas components with a detector, and to determine a fingerprint of the differentiated gas components. A reaction section and a vacuum section may be used for waste consumption and/or absorption.

Abstract: The present invention includes a heat sealable capsule adapted for use in analysis devices such as GCs, and methods for using the capsules to perform analysis in such devices. The capsules include a tube having an end that is heat-sealed to contain a sample that is to be analyzed at an injection temperature. The tube includes a heat sealable medium having a heat seal that closes the end, the tube having an inner and outer surface, both of the surfaces being substantially chemically inert with respect to the sample. The tube is substantially free of any material that outgases at the injection temperature. The tube is openable without breaking into pieces, and remains intact at the injection temperature. The capsule can include a programmable tag that stores information related to the sample contained therein.

Abstract: One way of practicing the method of the invention is to follow these steps, not necessarily in the disclosed sequence: (1) providing a hot gas spike apparatus to load one or more diffusion denuders with a compound selected from the group consisting of a calibration standard, an internal standard, and a surrogate standard compound in a solvent carrier; (2) pulling one or more samples of ambient atmosphere through at least one of the diffusion denuders in a multicapillary collection device; (3) extracting analytes from at least one of the diffusion denuders in an analyte transfer apparatus or from a filter using an extraction device; (4) optionally cleaning up gaseous extracts or extracts of filters using chromatography, and transferring the collected analytes into an analytical device. To practice the method, an apparatus is disclosed that has a hot gas spike component, a high-flow multicapillary collection device and an analyte transfer apparatus.

Abstract: An ex-vivo method for the early diagnosis of minimal hepatic encephalopathy by means of determining serum 3-nitrotyrosine relates to an ex-vivo method for the detection and early diagnosis of minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) in patients with liver diseases, including cirrhosis, based on the presence of specific serum biomarkers, specifically by means of determining 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), which comprises obtaining serum or plasma obtained from the blood of patients and controls, and determining whether or not the measurement of the concentration of 3-nitrotyrosine obtained is greater than a specific level.

Abstract: A method for restoring a volatile compound from a trapping means, wherein the method includes a flowing step wherein a carrier gas flows through the trapping means, at a controlled rate, by increasing the volume of a chamber located downstream of the trapping means is disclosed. The invention also relates to a device for implementing the method. The invention allows to faithfully restore the compounds that have been previously trapped and to faithfully restore the trapped odors.

Abstract: A system having reduced gas interference that includes a fluid chamber and a resonant sensor device in fluid communication with a fluid in the fluid chamber. The system includes a fluid control device adapted to change at least one of the fluid flow or pressure within the fluid chamber to achieve substantial wetting of surfaces in proximity to the resonant sensor device. Fluid surfaces of the system can include a material to increase the wettability (e.g., hydrophilicity) of the fluid surfaces.

Abstract: A gas chromatograph column is marked with a code that allows an operator or machine to accurately determine the distance between two points on the column by comparing markings at the two points on the column. The code may be human or machine readable.

Abstract: An injector (101) for injecting a sample into a chromatography column (161) comprises a sample inlet (105) for feeding the sample into the injector (101), an injection chamber (107) comprises a packing (119) for separating the sample into components thereof, and a first sample outlet (109) intended to be in fluid communication with the chromatography column (161). The injector (101) may be used in a chromatography system (159) for analyzing a sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas sample to be analyzed, wherein said sample is guided by means of a carrier gas through a separator unit having a downstream thermal conductivity detector providing a chromatogram having peaks for different analytes as a measurement signal. When using a thermal conductivity detector having a heated gold thread coated with a parylene F, hydrogen is used as a carrier gas, and a peak for the analyte hydrogen sulfide is generated by differentiating the chromatogram at the location of said analyte. The invention permits unlimited use of hydrogen as a carrier gas, even if the analyte is oxygen.

Abstract: A gas chromatograph-combustion apparatus and method are disclosed in which the carrier gas type and flow rate is continuously exchanged to facilitate high speed, high sensitivity compound specific isotope analysis. Samples are injected into a gas chromatograph that uses H2 as the carrier gas. The gas stream exiting the gas chromatograph is passed through a combustion system in which H2 and the samples are combusted, simultaneously and totally, to oxidize the sample to CO2 and/or N2 gas, and to convert H2 gas to water vapor. Water vapor is removed using a water separator. Therefore, combustion serves the dual purpose of preparing the samples for isotopic analysis and converting H2 to water vapor, which can be easily separated out. A second carrier gas may be used to convey the CO2 and N2 to a mass spectrometer where the isotopic composition (e.g. 14C or 15N) is determined.

Abstract: A method of analysing the hydrocarbon compounds in a bituminous material by means of comprehensive multi-dimensional gas chromatography is disclosed. The method may be used to measure the quantity of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in a bituminous material and may be used to determine the mutagenic tendency of a bituminous material.

Abstract: A method and system for rapid determination of a hydrocarbon type composition, such as crude oils and fractions thereof, and s obtaining the information necessary to assess the yield of commercially valuable fuel and lube oil fractions in a single process, variations of the method and system use Gas Chromatography-FID/Mass Spectrometry and other features, including an auto sampler, a wall coated capillary column, a temperature programmable injector, and a data processing system for compiling and processing the experimental data. The system and method further include a computer system with application software or other processing mechanism and optionally a communication network. One variation provides a graphical user interface for the entry of data and for displaying information, such as in a graphical manner, to show the relationship of various determined outputs and results.

Abstract: In the invention, a collection device includes a flow through micro scale plate arranged to collect analyte. The plate includes holes, and sorbent coating on contact surfaces of the plate. The holes pass analyte fluid flow, for example analyte vapor so that fluid flow for collection may be generally perpendicular to the sorbent plate. Preferred embodiment plates include an integrated heater trace. In preferred embodiments, a high substantially perpendicular flow is used for collection and concentration, and during desorption and delivery a low substantially parallel flow is used. The low flow is selected to meet constraints of a detector system.

Abstract: Automated systems and methods for processing liquid test samples are generally provided. Automated systems generally include a gas and liquid separator configured for removing at least one volatile component from the test sample, a first trapping vessel in fluid communication with the gas and liquid separator, wherein the first trapping vessel contains a trapping material capable of adsorbing at least one of the at least one volatile component to provide at least one adsorbed component, and a heat source configured to heat the trapping material to a temperature sufficient to release at least one of the at least one adsorbed component from the trapping material to provide at least one released component.