Headspace gas chromatography/ mass spectroscopy is the analysis of the volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds given off by a sample during heating or over time. 0.1-10 grams is the typical sample size, and virtually any sample that’s not highly volatile can be tested.
Applications of Headspace Gas Chromatography / Mass Spectroscopy
- Testing for residual solvents in pharmaceutical products
- Industrial analysis of monomers in polymers and plastics
- Identifying flavor compounds in beverages and food products
- Identifying odor-causing compounds
- Identifying contaminants in a product
- Identifying materials outgassed from a solid during heating
- Static headspace analysis is ideal for analyzing volatile compounds such as:
- residual solvents
- low molecular weight additives
Dynamic Headspace Analysis
This type of headspace analysis uses a “purge and trap” method where the sample is placed in a heated vessel and the vessel is purged with a gas. The gas flows from the vessel through a sorbent material which collects the outgassed components. The outgassed components are then flushed from the sorbent material onto the column for GC/MS analysis. The typical sensitivity for compounds analyzed by dynamic analysis is a nanogram per gram.
Static Headspace Analysis
In this analysis, a liquid or solid sample is placed in a vial, sealed and heated to a specific temperature so that the volatile components escape into the headspace above the sample. The headspace gas is then injected into a gas chromatograph which separates the various components of the sample based on size and polarity. The separated components then go into a mass selective detector that identifies the components.
Contact Innovatech Labs for more information.
