Markes and ALMSCO International to Jointly Showcase High-sensitivity Technology for Trace-level Aroma and Fragrance Profiling at Pittcon 2012

Markes International Ltd (Llantrisant, UK) together with its mass spectrometry division, ALMSCO International, and US subsidiary Markes Inc. (Cincinnati, OH) have jointly announced that they will be showcasing their latest suite of products for trace-level organic chemical analysis at PittCon 2012, in Orlando, FL, from March 11–15, 2012. These market-leading technologies for sample preparation, thermal desorption (TD) and time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry for gas chromatography will be exhibited on stand #1780, 1781.

On show will be the newly-released CIA Advantage™ TD system for automated and cryogen-free analysis of VOCs in air or gas canisters alongside Markes’ state-of-the-art technology for manual and automated thermal desorption of tube-based samples. The booth will also feature Markes’ increasingly popular Micro-Chamber/Thermal Extractor™ (μ-CTE™) sample preparation accessory to complement our TD range, The μ-CTE provides a versatile quick screening tool for volatile and semi-volatile organic chemicals (VOCs and SVOCs) emitted from manufactured goods and raw materials and is also used extensively for fragrance and aroma profiling.

Offering reference-quality full spectral information at traditional SIM detection limits ALMSCO’s high-performance TOF mass spectrometer, BenchTOF-dx™, promises to be a highlight of the show. Combining selectivity, stability and speed with full spectral sensitivity, this unique instrument delivers high-denition mass spectrometry and outstanding performance for every GC application. Rugged and robust for routine operation BenchTOF-dx, is also more than equal to the challenges of advanced research. It offers identication and measurement of both target compounds and unknowns in highly complex matrices and at the lowest possible levels,.

Completing the suite of products on dispay will be ALMSCO’s pioneering data mining software, TargetView™, for automated identification and measurement of trace target compounds in highly complex GC/MS profiles.

“The combination of these technologies is particularly useful to those involved in the GC analysis of trace level components in highly complex mixtures” says Alun Cole, Markes’ CEO. “By using Markes and ALMSCO technologies side-by-side, we’re able to provide ‘multi-hyphenated’ solutions for a wide range of GC/MS applications, and at Pittcon 2012, we’ll be show-casing this using food aroma profiling as an example”.

The companies will present a total of eight posters that describe the combined application of their technologies, including the analysis of trace-level ‘air toxics’, the odour-profiling of cheese, and online detection of chemical warfare agents and explosives .

For further information on Markes’ thermal desorption products, accessories, consumables or technologies, or ALMSCO’s time-of-flight mass spectrometer or software, visit stand #1780,1781 at PittCon 2012. Alternatively, please visit either www.markes.com   or www.almsco.com, call +44 (0)1443 230935 (Markes) or +44 (0)1443 233920 (ALMSCO).

For information on Markes’ or ALMSCO’s business in general, please email [email protected] or call +44 (0)1443 230935. For all media enquiries, please contact Dr Gavin Davies ([email protected] , +44 (0)1443 230935)