THERMAL DESORPTION GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS SPECTROMETRY FLAME IONIZATION DETECTION SNIFFER MULTI-COUPLING - A DEVICE FOR THE DETERMINATION OF ODOROUS VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS IN AIR

摘要

A multi-coupling analytical system is described, consisting of a thermal desorber installed with a gas chromatograph, a flame ionization detector, a mass spectrometer and a sniffer. The sniffer was connected at the output of the GC column leading to the flame ionization detector. The retention times obtained by the flame ionization detector and the sniffer are well correlated, allowing the detection of odorous compounds, which can be then identified by mass spectrometry. This device is therefore able to identify and quantify volatile organic compounds (VOC) and odorous compounds in only one analytical run. This device appears to be very helpful for indoor air quality investigations. As an example, the VOC emissions from two types of wall covering and, in particular, the identification of the odorous compounds, are reported. [References: 26]