Measurements for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in air have expanded. There are few analytical methods available which measure PFAS in air. Thermal desorption, gas chromatography, and tandem mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS/MS) is being successfully used for this purpose by the US EPA for the evaluation of indoor air and indoor materials using a simple, valve-free thermal desorber architecture.

The collection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from ambient air is either achieved actively by sampling onto a sorbent tube using a sampling pump, or passively using the tube as a diffusive sampler without pumping air through it. Active sampling is preferable because of easier quantification, shorter sampling time, and wider compound range that can be determined using a single tube.

In the work presented here, the PFAS listed in EN 17892, including the substance list in EU Drinking Water Directive (EU 2020/2184), were determined by an automated method based on solid phase extraction with weak anion exchange sorbent combined with LCMS/ MS. Recovery rates, blank values, and limits of quantification (LOQ) were determined following the requirements of the EN 17892 method. The method accuracy was demonstrated based on analysis of spiked water samples from different sources. LOQs in drinking water were below 0.5 ng/L for the vast majority of compounds.

Compostable products have gained popularity due to their green environmental claims. However, most of these materials are not strictly plant-based nor are they disposed of at the proper industrial composting sites. In this study, the GERSTEL PYRO Core system enables efficient automation of the thermal extraction and pyrolysis of three compostable and/or biodegradable materials and two natural sources.

To enhance the fragrance and taste of cigarettes smoke, flavor additives are often incorporated into cut tobacco. Analyzing the aroma components of cut tobacco holds significant importance. Therefore, it is crucial to select an efficient method for extracting the aroma and odor components from cut tobacco. In this study, a GERSTEL LabWorks Platform using Thermal Desorption TDU/Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction (SBSE) combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is employed for the analysis and identification of volatile flavor and aroma components in cut tobacco.

Thoroughly determining the VOCs and semi-VOCs in various consumer goods using the proper extraction technique for GCMS is vital for ensuring quality control, batch consistency, regulatory compliance, and successful product development studies. However, conventional sample extraction methods face significant limitations such as the introduction of additional solvents, the inability to handle matrix complexity, and difficulty achieving extremely low detection limits.

Aroma analysis is of paramount importance in the plant-based meat industry. The ability to replicate flavors and mimic real meat is vital in appealing to consumers. To capture the aroma profiles of cooked meat, analysts may often resort to equilibrium-based headspace extraction approaches such as headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) instead of dynamic purge approaches like dynamic headspace (DHS) sampling, despite the potential of the latter for higher recovery and sensitivity.

Material emissions in automobiles are an important subject for the whole automotive sector. The VDA 278 method is widely used for analysis of emissions from interior materials. The original GERSTEL TDS was built specifically for this method. Currently the GERSTEL TDS 3 is also widely used and for many users the question arises if the GERSTEL TD 3.5⁺ is equally suitable. This AppNote addresses the transfer of method VDA 278 from TDS to TD 3.5⁺.

Breath sampling is a technique used to aid in disease diagnosis and monitoring. Specific compounds found in exhaled breath are attributed to abnormal functional pathways due to various diseases. For instance, acetone and isoprene are indicators of poor glucose metabolism in diabetic patients. This application note investigates the use of GERSTEL TD 3.5⁺ Tenax TA^® thermal desorption tubes for the non-invasive collection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from breath to determine biomarkers for glucose metabolism. Distinct changes were seen in acetone and isoprene levels corresponding to blood glucose spikes after a participant ate meals throughout the day.

Edible oils and food products containing edible oils are prone to off-odors due to lipid oxidation. However, most studies focus on the increase of aldehydes and other compounds in oxidized samples without relating the results to the sensory attributes of the sample. In this study, a sensory directed analysis (SDA) method was employed to identify key sensory-active compounds responsible for these off-odors. Off-odors were explored in cooking oil and crackers. In each case, an aged sample was compared to a fresh, positive control sample.