Methanol

Purge and trap (P&T) is a dynamic headspace sample preparation technique widely employed in gas chromatography (GC) for the isolation and concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-volatile analytes from aqueous, solid, or gaseous matrices prior to instrumental analysis.The technique operates in three sequential phases:1. Purge Phase — An inert carrier gas (typically helium or nitrogen) is bubbled through or swept over the sample matrix at a controlled flow rate and temperature. This transfers volatile analytes from the sample into the gas phase through a process governed by Henry′s Law, whereby the partitioning of a compound between the liquid and gaseous phases is proportional to its partial pressure and Henry′s Law constant.2. Trap Phase — The purged analytes are swept onto a sorbent trap packed with one or more adsorbent materials (e.g., Tenax®, silica gel, activated charcoal, or polymeric resins). The trap selectively retains the target VOCs while allowing water vapor and the carrier gas to pass through, thereby achieving significant analyte preconcentration.3. Desorb Phase — The trap is rapidly heated to thermally desorb the concentrated analytes, which are then cryo-focused or directly transferred onto the GC column via a heated transfer line for chromatographic separation and detection.

Purge and trap GC is extensively utilized in environmental monitoring (EPA Methods 524, 5030, 8260), drinking water analysis, industrial hygiene, food flavor profiling, and clinical toxicology, underscoring its versatility as a robust analytical tool for trace-level VOC determination.

Explore various lab safety accessories and equipment for safe handling of solvents to increase your safety level from the first usage.

SUPRASOLV is a registered trademark of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany