Emissions Sampling & Analysis

Building Materials, Furniture, Consumer Goods, Construction Adhesives

Emissions Sampling and Analysis at MAS places samples into controlled temperature and humidity environments, and at set time intervals, byproducts that offgassed are collected. These byproducts are characterized using TD/GC/MS and HPLC. Calculations are performed based on these results and comparison to standards set by various regulatory bodies. VOC’s, formaldehyde, and other outgassing components are characterized, quantified, and modeled. MAS has 4 sizes of controlled-environment chambers suitable to many sizes of samples. Chemical Analysis capabilities at MAS often complement our Emissions Analysis projects.

High Performance Liquid Chromatography - UV/Vis, Fluorescence Detectors

HPLC is a quick and efficient analysis used to identify and quantify analytes in a sample. The HPLC separates analytes when the solvent (mobile phase) containing the sample is injected into the column (stationary phase). The column is packed with adsorbent material which separates the analytes as the sample makes its way through the column. Each analyte or compound has its own retention time which is the time it takes for a compound to travel through the column and reach the detector. Retention time may vary due to conditions such as pressure or flow rate, solvent, temperature of column, and the type of column used in analysis.

These conditions are important when using retention time to identify components within a sample. Once the components of the sample are separated and leave the column the compounds are detected.

The HPLC’s UV-Vis detector measures the absorption of a sample in the ultraviolent-visible spectrum at various wavelengths to identify analytes. Fluorescence detectors are more sensitive and selective, exciting a specific molecule. The emitted wavelength is a property characteristic of a specific compound.

Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry - FID, ECD, & NPD Detectors

GC/MS is an analytical method that is used to identify and detect various analytes and substances by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.

The GC volatizes the sample into a gas phase and separates the compounds using a column packed with a stationary (solid) phase. The compounds are moved by a carrier gas, causing each one to exit the column at various times (retention times). The separated compounds leave the column and enter the mass spectrometer.

The MS turns the compounds into ionized fragments. The compounds are passed through a high energy beam of electrons to produce ions. The ions are electrically charged atoms or molecule with a net electric charge due to loss or gain of one or more electrons. Each ion has a mass, and the mass of the ion is divided by the charge giving a mass to charge ratio. The ionized fragments are exposed to a magnetic field then travel to the detection plate. The mass to charge ratio is plotted against the intensity of the signal and compared to a library which allows the compound to be identified. The compounds can be identified using a combination of their retention time and their mass spectrum.

Thermal Desorption Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry

TD-GC/MS is the process of heating a sample such that volatile compounds can be removed from a solid matrix. This concentrates the analytes so that they are then able to be separated and characterized using GC/MS.

Headspace Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry

The addition of Headspace to GC/MS allows for volatile and semi-volatile organics in various matrices to be analyzed by the GC/MS. Solids or liquids, adhesives, powders, and samples that do not dissolve easily are examples of ideal samples for Headspace GC/MS analysis.
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