Thermal Desorber / Thermal Desorption System

Many analytical techniques – such as HPLC – require the separation of contaminants or media from desired sample material via adsorption or absorption; however, economic and environmental considerations often require the reclamation of removed substances. Thermal desorbers (or thermal desorption systems) fulfill this need, especially when the sample in question is solid. Thermal desorption systems typically have a temperature range between -50 and 400 °C, with programmable temperature ramp routines. A thermal desorber can help determine volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (VOC/SVOC) in solid, liquid, and gas samples, or help purge unwanted oxygen or water. Thermal desorbers can also utilize headspace technology to elucidate odor-causing compounds. Because thermal desorption systems are typically used in conjunction with liquid or gas chromatography, it is common for a thermal desorption system to integrate with known LCMS/HPLC products.