Improved resolution and determination of ambient C5−C12 hydrocarbons by GC-coupled refocussing system

A homemade cryogenic system derived from readily available material is described, illustrating its usage as an accessory for adsorption/thermal desorption chromatography. A small Chromsorb-W-HP packing (1 cm) was introduced into a deactivated precolumn as a cryofocussing, preconcentrating unit. This was able to retain the analyte which had been thermally desorpted from a Tenax TA sampling tube at a relatively higher temperature (−80°C∼−90°C), with the analyte also reinjected on the analytical column in a relatively narrow band. Average overall recoveries for 24 hydrocarbons tested were 97.5%. Cryofocussing enhanced sensitivity and improved resolution. Field studies at a petroleum industry site were carried out and the accessory proved to be useful for complex C5−C12 hydrocarbon analysis in ambient air.