Thermal Desorption

Main Features and Advantages

• Platform Approach: provides more options for sample introduction and automation than any other system
• Rugged and Reliable: No valves or long transfer lines to foul up or replace
• No Carryover: Direct interface eliminates carry over issues found when using valves and transfer lines
• Easy method development: GERSTEL's CIS based trap does not require different trapping materials for different compound classes
• Compatibility with ISO, ASTM, and other standard methods used in material emissions and other industries
• Optional 21 CFR part 11 Compliance
• Ability to trap almost everything without the need for chemical adsorbents helping you to eliminate doubt, discover the unknown compounds that are key to solving your critical challenges

The GERSTEL Thermal Desorption System provides unmatched performance for a wide range of applications.  Thermal desorption tubes are heated fully and directly, from the sorbent/sample area all the way to the end of the tube, ensuring complete transfer from the thermal desorption tube to the focusing trap with no carryover.

GERSTEL’s CIS focusing trap is a unique, forward-flushed trap with no valves or transfer lines that can get fouled up and are expensive to replace. The trap can be cooled using LN2 to achieve non-selective focusing at low temperatures, or Peltier based cooling combined with sorbents may be used for analysis of target compounds at higher temperatures. This makes GERSTEL thermal desorption ideal for both targeted analysis and for non-targeted, exploratory work.  The CIS focusing trap may also be quickly converted to liquid injection for method validation and troubleshooting.

The GERSTEL TDU and TD 3.5+ use the GERSTEL MPS series of autosamplers, which can be configured for only thermal desorption work or expanded as a platform that includes automated dynamic headspace, headspace (HS), solid phase microextraction (SPME), pyrolysis, and other techniques – the widest range of sample introduction tools for gas  chromatography available today.  MPS autosamplers can also be used to spike thermal desorption tubes with standards or more involved sample prep steps.  Robotic technology provides flexibility and improved precision and accuracy. 

All techniques – not only thermal desorption but HS, SPME, dynamic headspace, and the others too – are supported by GERSTEL’s decades-long experience with sample preparation in the environmental, material emissions, and food/flavor/fragrance application areas.  Not matter what technique you use on a GERSTEL platform, it is supported by a team of application experts with years of experience in each technique, and for the life of the instrument.

Application Notes

1. Direct Thermal Extraction Analysis of Solid and Liquid Samples using the GERSTEL MPS Robotic Sampler, Thermal Desorption Unit (TDU 2) and Cooled Inlet System (CIS)
2. Direct Thermal Extraction Analysis of Food Packaging Material
3. Analysis of Food Samples using Thin Film Solid Phase Microextraction (TF-SPME) and Thermal Desorption GC/MS
4. Analysis Of Beverage Samples Using Thin Film Solid Phase Microextraction (TF-SPME) and Thermal Desorption GC/MS
5. Trace Analysis of PAH’s and PCB’s in Soil through On-Line Direct Thermal Desorption
6. Design, Performance and Applicability of a Multi-Functional Thermal Desorption System for Trace Analysis in Capillary GC
7. Direct Thermal Analysis of Solids – A Fast Method for the Determination of Halogenated Phenols and Anisols in Cork
8. Design, Performance, and Applicability of a Newly Developed Sample Introduction System for Use with Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction (SBSE)
9. Breath Analysis in Patients with Metabolic Disorders: GC/MS Analysis with a Combined Thermal Desorption – Cooled Injection System CIS
10. The Use of Different PTV Inlet Liner Types for Trapping Alkanes, Aromatics and Oxygenated Compounds During Thermal Desorption
11. Volatile Organic Compounds in Air
12. Characterization of Organic Compounds in Atmospheric Nanoparticles by Thermal Extraction – Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography (GC x GC) in Combination with Selective Detection, Mass Spectrometry and Accurate Mass Detection
13. Elimination of Non-Volatile Sample Matrix Components After GC Injection using a Thermal Desorber and Microvial Inserts
14. Quantitative Determination of Trace Analytes in Solid Materials by Thermal Extraction GC
15. Analysis of Plasticizers in Medical Products by GC/MS with a Combined Thermal Desorption/Cooled Injection System, CIS
16. Automated Online Desorption and Analysis of DNPH Derivatives of Airborne Aldehydes and Ketones
17. Volatile Organic Compounds from Adhesives and their Contribution to Indoor Air Problems
18. Characterization of Biogenic Emissions by Online Thermal Desorption Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry
19. Direct Thermal Desorption GC/MS Analysis of Automotive Air Charcoal Filters
20. Air Sampling of Fragrance Compounds using the Automated GERSTEL Gas Sampling System (GSS)
21. Extractables and Leachables Analysis of IV Bag Systems using Direct Thermal Extraction of the Materials and Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction of Aqueous Solutions coupled with Thermal Desorption Gas-Chromatography with Unit Mass and High Resolution Mass Spectrometric Detection
22. Comparison of Standard Liquid Extraction and Direct Thermal Desorption GC/MS Techniques for the Analysis of Charcoal Filters used for Indoor Air Purification in a PCB Contaminated Building
23. Flavor Profiling of Different Olive Oils with Rancidity-Monitoring by Thermal Extraction GC/MS
24. Analysis of Wet Samples by Direct Thermal Desorption GC
25. Comparison of the Sensitivity of Static Headspace GC, Solid Phase Microextraction, and Direct Thermal Extraction for Analysis of Volatiles in Solid Matrices
26. Analysis of Aroma Compounds in Edible Oils by Direct Thermal Desorption GC/MS using Slitted Microvials