7. Introduction to Thermal Desorption
This chapter explores the principles and methodologies related to thermal desorption and its applications in environmental monitoring. It details the processes involved in sample preparation, gas chromatography, and the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Additionally, various sampling methods, including passive samplers, are discussed, highlighting their advantages and limitations.
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What we have learnt
- Thermal desorption is an automated process that efficiently collects vapor samples for analysis.
- Flash desorption enhances the speed of sample analysis by quickly releasing volatiles.
- Passive sampling techniques provide low-cost, long-term environmental monitoring solutions without the need for continuous active sampling.
Key Concepts
- -- Thermal Desorption
- A technique that uses heat to release adsorbed compounds from a sample for analysis.
- -- Gas Chromatography (GC)
- An analytical method for separating and analyzing compounds that can be vaporized without decomposition.
- -- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
- Organic chemicals that have high vapor pressures at room temperature, affecting air quality.
- -- Passive Sampler
- A device that collects samples from ambient air or water by allowing it to come to equilibrium with a sorbent without using pumps.
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