Gas analyte spectrum sharpening and separation with multi-dimensional micro-GC for gas chromatography analysis

A gas analysis system comprising:

• a cascaded gas chromatograph mounted to a substrate, the cascaded gas chromatograph comprising:
• a Dean switch formed in or on a microchip, the Dean switch comprising a first Y-splitter, a second Y-splitter, and a third Y-splitter, wherein:
• the first Y-splitter is fluidly coupled to a fluid inlet of the Dean switch,
• the second Y-splitter is fluidly coupled to a fluid outlet of the Dean switch, to an outlet of a flow rate restrictor, and to an outlet of the first Y-splitter, and
• the third Y-splitter is fluidly coupled to an additional fluid outlet of the Dean switch, to an outlet of an additional flow rate restrictor, and to an additional outlet of the first Y-splitter;
• a first gas chromatograph including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a first temperature control, wherein the fluid outlet of the first gas chromatograph is fluidly coupled to the microchip inlet;
• a second gas chromatograph having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a second temperature control, wherein the fluid inlet of the second gas chromatograph is fluidly coupled to the second Y-splitter via the fluid outlet of the Dean switch;
• and
• a third gas chromatograph having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a third temperature control, wherein the fluid inlet of the third gas chromatograph is fluidly coupled to the third Y-splitter via the additional fluid outlet of the Dean switch;
• one or more detector arrays having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and being mounted to the substrate, the one or more detector arrays including a detector array coupled to the outlet of the second gas chromatograph and a detector array coupled to the outlet of the third gas chromatograph;
• a control circuit coupled to the cascaded gas chromatograph and to the one or more detector arrays, wherein the control circuit is adapted to communicate with the first, second, and third gas chromatographs and with the one or more detector arrays;
• and
• a readout circuit coupled to the one or more detector arrays and to the control circuit, wherein the readout circuit can communicate with the control circuit and the one or more detector arrays.