Trace Gas Chromatographic Techniques Below The Part-Per-Billion Level

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the trace gas chromatographic techniques below the part-per-billion level. Difficulties are frequently encountered in attempting to analyze directly organic compounds of interest, which are often below the part per billion level. Despite the use of highly sensitive instruments, detection of trace amounts of substances in this range presents a technical challenge. A good example is the isolation and identification of compounds which have profound physiological effects at very low concentrations. Another area of interest is the analysis of volatiles from biological fluids to seek distinctive differences between "normals" and those afflicted by disease. More recently, the awareness has grown that minute concentrations of chemical pollutants can have far-reaching effects as health hazards, further underscoring the need for reliable analytical techniques. Flavor and odorant studies are also areas of interest in this analytical region.