NSF Award
9361368
9361368 Klemp This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in the general area of analytical chemical instrumentation. The objective of the research is to demonstrate the feasibility of a high speed gas chromatography system. The approach involves the development of an instrument which will use a cryofocusing inlet system capable of preconcentrating a vapor sample and introducing it to the separation column as a very narrow plug. To compensate for the loss of resolution, the instrument will use tandem ensembles of capillary columns having different stationary phases. Computer controlled differential adjustment of gas flow rates or temperatures of the individual columns will control selectivity for specific applications. If successful, analysis times of a few seconds should be achieved. %%% Gas chromatography is widely used for the analysis of chemical process streams, environmental samples and laboratory samples. Significant reductions in analysis time will dramatically increase process monitoring reliability and sample throughput. The proposed high-speed gas chromatography instrument should have broad-based commercial potential. ***
