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Anal Chem

Title:		Development and optimization of an analytical system for volatile organic compound analysis coming from the heating of interstellar/cometary ice analogues
Author(s):		Abou Mrad N; Duvernay F; Theule P; Chiavassa T; Danger G;
Address:		"Aix-Marseille Universite, CNRS , PIIM, UMR 7345, 13013 Marseille, France"
Journal Title:		Anal Chem
Year:		2014
Volume:		20140728
Issue:		16
Page Number:		8391 - 8399
DOI:		10.1021/ac501974c
ISSN/ISBN:		1520-6882 (Electronic) 0003-2700 (Linking)
Abstract:		"This contribution presents an original analytical system for studying volatile organic compounds (VOC) coming from the heating and/or irradiation of interstellar/cometary ice analogues (VAHIIA system) through laboratory experiments. The VAHIIA system brings solutions to three analytical constraints regarding chromatography analysis: the low desorption kinetics of VOC (many hours) in the vacuum chamber during laboratory experiments, the low pressure under which they sublime (10(-9) mbar), and the presence of water in ice analogues. The VAHIIA system which we developed, calibrated, and optimized is composed of two units. The first is a preconcentration unit providing the VOC recovery. This unit is based on a cryogenic trapping which allows VOC preconcentration and provides an adequate pressure allowing their subsequent transfer to an injection unit. The latter is a gaseous injection unit allowing the direct injection into the GC-MS of the VOC previously transferred from the preconcentration unit. The feasibility of the online transfer through this interface is demonstrated. Nanomoles of VOC can be detected with the VAHIIA system, and the variability in replicate measurements is lower than 13%. The advantages of the GC-MS in comparison to infrared spectroscopy are pointed out, the GC-MS allowing an unambiguous identification of compounds coming from complex mixtures. Beyond the application to astrophysical subjects, these analytical developments can be used for all systems requiring vacuum/cryogenic environments"
Keywords:		Equipment Design Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/*instrumentation Heating *Ice/analysis *Meteoroids Volatile Organic Compounds/*analysis;
Notes:		"MedlineAbou Mrad, Ninette Duvernay, Fabrice Theule, Patrice Chiavassa, Thierry Danger, Gregoire eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2014/07/16 Anal Chem. 2014 Aug 19; 86(16):8391-9. doi: 10.1021/ac501974c. Epub 2014 Jul 28"