A microtrap is made by packing a small diameter tubing with an adsorbent. The microtrap can be rapidly heated with a pulse of electrical current resulting in a sharp desorption that can act as an injection for GC separation. The microtrap can be used in several configurations to concentrate and inject sample in continuous, on-line monitoring system.
In this research a laboratory scale catalytic incinerator was set up and volatile organic compounds in the incinerator effluents were monitored using the microtrap based injection systems. The detection systems used were gas chromatography and nonmethane organic carbon (NMOC) analyzer. Conventional sample valve, sequential valve microtrap and on-line microtrap in a backflush configuration were studied and compared as on-line injection devices. Figures of merits such as calibration curves, spike recovery and detection limits were studied. The conversion efficiencies of the catalytic incineration process at different operation conditions were also evaluated
