US 12,306,078 B2
Dynamic headspace vacuum transfer “in trap” extraction method and apparatus
Pascal Fuchsmann, Torny-le-Grand (CH); Fabian Wahl, Buchs (CH); Patrick Bischoff, Münsingen (CH); and Mireille Tena Stern, Fribourg (CH)
Assigned to CTC Analytics AG, Zwingen (CH)
Appl. No. 17/428,820
Filed by CTC Analytics AG, Zwingen (CH)
PCT Filed Feb. 7, 2019, PCT No. PCT/CH2019/000002
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 5, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/160686, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 13, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0018740 A1, Jan. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 30/06 (2006.01); G01N 1/22 (2006.01); G01N 1/40 (2006.01); G01N 30/88 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 1/2226 (2013.01) [G01N 1/405 (2013.01); G01N 30/06 (2013.01); G01N 2001/2229 (2013.01); G01N 2030/884 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A headspace extraction and analysis method for volatile compounds, wherein a continuous flow of volatile compounds is forced by applying reduced pressure conditions, the method comprising:
(i) inserting a needle of a sampling means via a septum into a headspace above a solid or liquid sample contained in a container closed by said septum, wherein said sampling means has a trap filled with at least one sorbent, said trap has a first end and a second end, at the first end the trap is connected to the needle, and at the second end the trap is connected with at least one flow channel connected to a valve that is switchable between a vacuum source and an inert gas source, the valve being fluidly connected to a gas distribution block having a first port connected to the at least one flow channel, a second port connected to the vacuum source and a third port connected to the inert gas source,
(ii) connecting the vacuum source to the sampling means on the side of the second end of the trap via the valve and the gas distribution block, so that volatile compounds in the headspace are sucked out from the container into the trap,
(iii) removing the sampling means from the container,
(iv) connecting the inert gas source to the sampling means via the valve and the gas distribution block to dry the sampling means by flowing an inert gas supplied by the inert gas source through the sampling means from the second side,
(v) inserting the needle into an injector of a gas chromatography apparatus,
(vi) desorbing the volatile compounds from the trap by flowing the inert gas supplied by the insert gas source through the at least one sorbent from the second side,
(vii) analyzing the volatile compounds and
(viii) cleaning the trap and needle by flushing with the inert gas supplied by the inert gas source.