Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026
09:38
Dithranol as a Matrix for Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Imaging on a Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometer
Published on: November 26, 2013
Thin layer distillation for matrix isolation in flow analysis
Patrick Mornane1, Jeroen van den Haak, Terence J Cardwell
1School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
Talanta
|December 17, 2008
Summary
A novel thin layer distillation (TLD) cell enables efficient analyte transfer for online analysis. This membrane-free system offers comparable or superior performance for volatile compounds, especially in complex samples.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Separation Science
Background:
- Traditional methods for analyzing volatile compounds in complex matrices often face challenges with membrane fouling and limited efficiency.
- Flow injection analysis (FIA) systems require robust analyte transfer mechanisms for reliable online measurements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate analyte transfer and measurement in a novel thin layer distillation (TLD) cell within a flow injection configuration.
- To compare the performance of the TLD system with a conventional pervaporation flow injection (PFI) system for various volatile amines.
Main Methods:
- A membrane-free TLD cell was designed with parallel donor and acceptor channels separated by a thin wall.
- Analyte transfer occurred via room-temperature distillation into the headspace, followed by condensation/uptake in the acceptor stream.
- The TLD system was optimized for dimensions and operational parameters.
Main Results:
- The TLD system demonstrated efficient analyte transfer without membrane-related issues.
- Performance in terms of throughput and sensitivity was comparable or superior to PFI for higher molecular mass amines.
- The TLD approach proved effective for analyzing volatile chemical species in challenging 'dirty' samples.
Conclusions:
- The TLD technique offers a promising, membrane-free alternative for online analysis of volatile analytes.
- Its robustness and efficiency make it particularly suitable for complex matrices and higher molecular mass compounds.
- The TLD system represents an attractive advancement for real-time monitoring of volatile species.
Related Concept Videos
01:01Distillation: Vapor–Liquid Equilibria
Distillation is a separation technique that takes advantage of the boiling point properties of disparate elements in a mixture. To perform distillation, we begin by heating a miscible mixture of two liquids with a significant difference in boiling points (at least 20°C). As the solution heats up and reaches the bubble point of the more volatile component, some molecules of the more volatile component transition into the gas phase and travel upward into the condenser, which is a glass tube with...
01:20Overview Of Cell Separation And Isolation
Cell separation was first achieved in 1964 by S. H. Seal, who separated large tumor cells from the smaller blood cells using filtration. Two years later, Pohl and Hawk performed experiments on how cells respond differently to a nonuniform electric field based on the cell type. Such observations were the inception of cell separation methods, which allow isolating a single cell type from a heterogeneous sample.
01:15Dialysis
Dialysis is a diffusion-based purification process that separates analyte molecules from a complex matrix. This is accomplished by allowing molecules in the solution to pass through a semipermeable membrane into a liquid on the other side. The membrane is usually made of cellulose acetate or cellulose nitrate, and the second liquid must be miscible with the solution. Ions (e.g., chloride or sodium) or organic molecules (e.g., glucose) can pass through the membrane pores, which generally have...
01:11Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC): Overview
Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) is a chromatography technique that separates compounds based on their polarity. TLC typically uses polar silica gel, a form of silicon dioxide, as the stationary phase. The silica gel contains hydroxyl (OH) groups on its surface, which form hydrogen bonds with polar compounds, influencing their adhesion to the stationary phase.
To begin the analysis, a mixture of compounds is spotted on the starting line on the TLC plate using a thin capillary. The bottom of the...
To begin the analysis, a mixture of compounds is spotted on the starting line on the TLC plate using a thin capillary. The bottom of the...
01:09Analyte Adsorption and Distribution
In certain chromatographic separations, solutes transfer between the mobile phase and the stationary phase via sorption, which typically refers to the process of adsorption. For many chromatographic systems, the sorption process often depends on the polarity of the compounds—an expression of the overall dipole moment within the molecule. During the separation process, there is competition between the solute and solvent for adsorption to the stationary phase. Highly polar compounds and solvents...
01:17Steady, Laminar Flow Between Parallel Plates
Understanding steady, laminar flow between parallel plates is essential for analyzing and designing flow in narrow rectangular channels, commonly found in various water conveyance and drainage systems. The Navier-Stokes equations govern fluid motion and are generally challenging to solve due to their nonlinearity. However, simplifications are possible in certain cases, like the steady laminar flow between parallel plates. For this scenario, we assume steady, incompressible, laminar flow.