Miniature Low Power Gas Chromatography

摘要

Miniaturized, low power gas chromatography (GC) instrumentation will play an important role in field analytical measurements and monitoring for chemicals of environmental interest. We are developing new low power GC technology and designs for a variety of applicatiosn including the measurement of trace sulfure species in the marine atmosphere from aircraft, and environmental health and safety monitoring. Our low power GC design approach is based on minimizing thermal mass and losses, and has resulted in a modular, very low power GC assembly consisting of a foil covered bundle with GC capillary column, electrically insulated heater wire, and a new capillary thermometer-type temperature sensor using a miniature pressure transducer. The power consumption of this assembly is a few watts or less, and it provides fiexibility for the incorporation of a variety of different modules for sampling, preconcentration and detection, including the potential for developing very low power hand-held GC-IMS or fieldable laboratory-type GC systems.