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Updated: May 10, 2026

Quantitative Detection of Trace Explosive Vapors by Programmed Temperature Desorption Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture Detector
Published on: July 25, 2014
Coupling needle trap devices with gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry detection as a simple approach for
Nathaly Reyes-Garcés1, German Augusto Gómez-Ríos, Erica A Souza Silva
1Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1.
Abstract:
This study presents needle trap device (NTD) coupled with a portable gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry detection system (NTD-GC-IMS) as an advantageous, simple, cheap and reliable approach for on-site quantitative analysis. The NTD-GC-IMS system was evaluated using α-pinene, limonene and acetone as analytical models. Results showed satisfactory response stability (intra and inter-day relative standard deviation (RSDs)<10%), as well as limits of detection (LODs) comparable to those provided by conventional benchtop instruments (LODs<0.7ng). Additionally, this methodology, together with solid phase microextraction (SPME-GC-IMS), was successfully used for on-site monitoring of temporal emissions of α-pinene by a pine branch at different times during the same day. Quantitative analysis was satisfactorily accomplished in a significantly short period of time (330s) owing to the low detection limits that IMS detection provides.
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