Method of automatically regulating and measuring pressure during sampling and analysis of headspace gas

A method of automatically regulating and measuring pressure of a plurality of vials by a headspace sampling instrument, said vials being automatically sampled by the headspace sampling instrument and including at least one volatile substance in a headspace gas within each vial, the method comprising:

• automatically placing a first vial on the headspace sampling instrument;
• automatically measuring and recording a static pressure within the first vial via the headspace sampling instrument;
• automatically pressurizing the first vial to a predetermined pressure that is greater than the static pressure via the headspace sampling instrument;
• automatically allowing a sample of the headspace gas from the first vial to flow into a sample loop of the headspace sampling instrument;
• automatically replacing the first vial on the headspace sampling instrument with a second vial;
• automatically measuring and recording a static pressure within the second vial via the headspace sampling instrument;
• automatically pressurizing the second vial to a predetermined pressure that is greater than the static pressure of the second vial and is different from the pressure of the first vial via the headspace sampling instrument;
• and automatically allowing a sample of the headspace gas from the second vial to flow into a sample loop of the headspace sampling instrument.

A method of automatically regulating and measuring pressure of a headspace sampling instrument and a plurality of vials, said vials being automatically sampled with the headspace sampling instrument and including at least one volatile substance in a headspace gas within each vial, the method comprising:

• preparing the plurality of vials;
• entering predetermined vial pressurization and headspace sampling instrument pressurization settings for each vial into a central processing unit of the headspace sampling instrument;
• automatically retrieving the first vial and automatically placing the first vial onto the headspace sampling instrument, said first vial having a static pressure;
• automatically measuring and recording the static pressure of the first vial;
• automatically pressurizing the first vial to a predetermined pressure corresponding to the vial pressurization setting entered into the central processing unit for the first vial, said vial pressurization setting being greater than the static pressure of the first vial;
• automatically allowing a sample of the headspace gas to flow into a sample loop of the headspace sampling instrument;
• and said headspace sampling instrument pressurization setting being automatically reached as the headspace gas flows into the sample loop of the headspace sampling instrument.