A Purge and Trap Concentrator is an instrument used to test volatile organic compounds. By bubbling a purge gas through your sample matrix, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are removed and collected on an analytical trap. After the trap purge is complete, the trap is heated and the VOCs are released and delivered to a gas chromatograph for separation and detection. Tekmar’s Lumin uses components that are absolutely essential to perform a successful Purge and Trap analysis: an electronic mass flow controller (MFC), superior trapping technology, and inert sample pathway.
What are the advantages of Purge and Trap?
A Purge and Trap system is highly accurate for testing volatile organic compounds. The system is able to detect and remove virtually all of the volatile compounds.
What does it mean to purge a sample?
A measured amount of sample is placed in a sealed vessel. The sample is purged with inert gas, causing volatile compounds to be swept out of the sample. The volatile compounds are retained in an adsorbent trap, which allows the purge gas to pass through to vent. The volatiles are desorbed by heating the trap: they are injected into the GC by backflushing the trap using the GC carrier gas. Then, separation and detection is performed by normal GC operation.
