8890 GC with TD100-xr Thermal Desorber

Thermal Desorption

Thermal desorption (TD) is a versatile preconcentration technique for gas chromatography and GC/MS that combines sample preparation, extraction, and injection into a single automated process. It is used to analyze very volatile to semi-volatile organic compounds in a variety of solid, liquid, and gaseous samples across diverse application areas.

This technique is safer and more environmentally friendly than solvent extraction, easy to automate and validate, and complies with standard methods. Agilent GC and GC/MS instruments with TD systems from Markes International, including Multi-Gas versions, offer the sensitivity, flexibility, and dynamic range to meet your VOC and SVOC analysis needs.

GC Sample Preparation & Introduction

Product Details

Features

Multi-Gas enabled systems for compatibility with hydrogen, nitrogen, and helium carrier gas
Hydrogen carrier gas compatibility provides cost savings over helium and allows for higher throughput due to faster chromatographic separations
Quantitative sample re-collection of all split flows enables repeat analysis of critical samples, easy method validation, and overcomes the one-shot limitation of conventional TD systems
Capacity of up to 100 tubes and the ability to use overlap mode provide enhanced throughput
Configurations for 14-channel canister, 4-channel canister, or 3-channel on-line, with 100-tube automation available for ultimate flexibility on one TD-GC-MS system
Electronic tube tagging: RFID tags for simplified chain of custody are available for industry standard sorbent tubes
Diffusion locking for enhanced sample integrity and robust (mechanically simple) automation
Patented inert valving for compatibility with every TD application on a single analytical platform - ultra-volatiles, semi-volatiles (up to n-C44) plus reactive species such as mercaptans, CS gas, etc. - all on one TD system
Automated internal standard introduction onto blank as well as sampled tubes, or onto the focusing cold trap
Electronic pneumatics control (EPC) of carrier gas through the thermal desorber ensures consistent compound retention time independent of split flow
Electrically-cooled sorbent trapping with uniquely fast trap heating rates for splitless capillary GC operation and optimum sensitivity without risk of ice formation
Off-line conditioning for multiple tubes without the need to blank-off unused tube connections
Specialized sorbent tubes: Certified reference standards, SafeLok tubes, inert coated tubes
A range of unique sampling tools for measuring VOC and SVOC in challenging matrices: liquids/solids/emulsions, breath, in-situ soil, polymers, natural products, construction products, etc.
Accommodates focusing traps and sorbent tubes, canisters, sampling bags, or online sampling
A variety of sampling tube and focusing trap sorbents are available to accommodate specific sample types and meet diverse application requirements

How It Works

Thermal Desorption Sampling

Most thermal desorption applications use sorbent tubes and a two-stage desorption process to focus the analytes into a narrow band of gas to achieve maximum sensitivity. Up to several hundred liters of vapor is collected off-line onto a sorbent tube. The first desorption step occurs when the tube is heated to release the analytes, which are swept into a cold focusing trap. This is then rapidly heated, and the compounds are released and swept into the GC. Both desorption steps happen in reverse flow, allowing analytes to be quantified in a single run.

Thermal Desorption Sorbents

Successful TD analysis depends on the optimum selection of sorbents for sampling tubes and focusing traps. This enables quantitation of myriad compounds, from C2 hydrocarbons and freons to semi-volatiles such as PCBs, phthalates, and PAHs, without requiring cryogen cooling. Sorbents include porous polymer (Tenax TA is the most popular), graphitized carbon blacks, carbonized molecular sieves, and Zeolite molecular sieves. Weaker sorbents are best for heavier and more reactive molecules while stronger sorbents work well for small, volatile analytes.

Thermal Desorption Versatility

Thermal desorption can be applied to a wide range of analytes and samples in a solid, liquid, or gaseous state. It can handle organic compounds with boiling points down to -100 °C (such as C2 hydrocarbons) to those that boil up to 500 °C (for example, PAHs) to very reactive species like sulfur compounds.

Applications

Environmental

Thermal desorption combined with GC or GC/MS analysis is used to monitor a broad range of natural and man-made chemicals in environmental samples. Some examples are PFAS in air, volatile and semi-volatile pollutants in water and soil, and compounds of interest in ambient, industrial, indoor, and vehicle cabin air. The technique has been shown to meet the requirements of standard methods from worldwide regulatory agencies.

Materials and Consumer Products

We come into contact with chemicals every day, so it is important to ensure that exposure levels are safe for humans and animals. Thermal desorption and GC or GC/MS can monitor products as varied as construction materials, cosmetics, household goods such as cleaning products and air fresheners, plastics and polymers, tobacco and e-cigarettes, medical devices, and more. If you are following ISO, EN, or ASTM methods, TD-GC/MS is fully compliant with them.

Food and Beverage

Volatile compounds, even at trace levels, contribute significantly to the flavor and aroma profile of foods and beverages and can indicate spoilage or contamination. Certain chemicals in packaging can leach into foods and beverages or be introduced into them during the growing or processing of ingredients. Thermal desorption with GC or GC/MS can be a vital tool to help scientists ensure the quality, consistency, and safety of our food.

Literature

Key Literature

Agilent Thermal Desorption Solutions brochure

Get a complete preparation and analysis package, from one reliable source.

Brochures
English
07 Feb 2019
1.11 MB
PDF

EPA TO-15 Analysis Using Hydrogen Carrier Gas and the Agilent HydroInert Source

This application note describes the use of hydrogen carrier gas and the Agilent HydroInert source for GC/MS analysis of humidified canister ‘air toxics’ samples at 100% relative humidity, using cryogen-free systems for thermal desorption preconcentration.

Application Notes
English
01 Jun 2023
1.02 MB
PDF

Analysis of Trace PFAS in Air Using Cryogen-Free Thermal Desorption and GC/MS

This application note describes the use of the Agilent 8890 GC and 5977B GC/MS, combined with thermal desorption, for the analysis of trace-level PFAS in air.

Application Notes
English
08 Sep 2022
1.28 MB
PDF

Application Notes

Brochures

Flyers

Featured References

Publications

An analysis of speciated hydrocarbons in hydrous ethanol (H100) and ethanol-gasoline blend (E22) for vehicle exhaust emissions, Bruno Siciliano et al., Atmospheric Environment, 285, 119248 (2022) Learn More
Characteristics of nano-plastics in bottled drinking water, Yihe Huang et al., Journal of Hazardous Materials, 424(C), 127404 (2022) Learn More
Optimization of a thermal desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method for characterization of semi-volatile organic compounds in high time resolved PM_2.5, Rosa M. Flores, Elif Mertoglu, Atmospheric Pollution Research, 11(3), 621-629 (2020) Learn More
Short- and medium-term effect of inhaled corticosteroids on exhaled breath biomarkers in severe asthma, Fahad Alahmadi et al., J. Breath Res., 16(4), 047101 (2022) Learn More
TD-GC/MS analysis of indoor air pollutants (VOCs, PM) in hair salons, Chrystalla Kaikiti et al., Chemosphere, 294, 133691 (2022) Learn More
Comprehensive chemical characterization of gaseous I/SVOC emissions from heavy-duty diesel vehicles using two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry, Xiao He et al., Environmental Pollution, 305, 119284 (2022) Learn More
Influencing factors of carbonyl compounds and other VOCs in commercial airliner cabins: On-board investigation of 56 flights, Yin, Y. et al., Indoor Air, 31, 2084-2098 (2021) Learn More
Measurements of Parameters Controlling the Emissions of Organophosphate Flame Retardants in Indoor Environments, Yirui Liang et al., Environ. Sci. Technol., 52(10), 5821–5829 (2018) Learn More
Evaluating Indoor Air Chemical Diversity, Indoor-to-Outdoor Emissions, and Surface Reservoirs Using High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry, Roger Sheu et al., Environ. Sci. Technol., 55(15), 10255–10267 (2021) Learn More
Very volatile organic compounds (VVOC) as emissions from wooden materials and in indoor air of new prefabricated wooden houses, Alexandra Schieweck, Building and Environment, 190, 107537 (2021) Learn More

Videos

Tube and Sorbent Selection for Thermal Desorption

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Featured

Thermal Desorption

Product Details

Thermal Desorption Sampling

Thermal Desorption Sorbents

Thermal Desorption Versatility

Environmental

Materials and Consumer Products

Food and Beverage

Agilent Thermal Desorption Solutions brochure

EPA TO-15 Analysis Using Hydrogen Carrier Gas and the Agilent HydroInert Source

Analysis of Trace PFAS in Air Using Cryogen-Free Thermal Desorption and GC/MS

Frequently Asked Questions about Thermal Desorption

Videos

Tube and Sorbent Selection for Thermal Desorption

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