Thermal preconcentrator for collection of chemical species

The unit of Clam 14, wherein the sections are designated for each of the plurality of materials.

A thermal preconcentrator unit comprising:

• a temperature controlled surface;
• a nanonfiber medium having nanofibers of an average fiber diameter less than 1 micron, disposed on and in thermal contact with the temperature controlled surface, and configured to concentrate a chemical species upon sorption on the nanofiber medium, and
• a heating and cooling device configured to cool and heat the temperature controlled surface to promote sorption and desorption of the chemical species onto and from the nanofiber medium.

A method for concentrating a chemical species, comprising:

• providing a temperature controlled surface;
• exposing the chemical species to a nanonfiber medium disposed on the temperature controlled surface to concentrate the chemical species thereon, said nanofiber medium having nanofibers of an average fiber diameter less than 1 micron.