Sample introduction device and method

Abstract

The present invention relates to an injector for use in gas phase analytical systems and methods comprising a metal housing, provided with a carrier gas inlet, a split outlet, a column outlet of the injector, a sample inlet, a liner, and a heater device comprising at least one coil for radio frequency inductive heating the housing with a predetermined temperature program and for providing a predetermined spatial temperature profile in the injector. The injector according to the invention allows performing gas phase analyses, especially GC analyses with reduced discrimination. Advantages of heating with a heater device comprising a coil for inductive heating include a homogeneous heating profile of the housing including parts connected thereto, with heating rates that can be varied widely. A further advantage is that the injector can be operated as a conventional S/SL injector at a predetermined temperature, or as PTV injector or thermal desorption injector with certain predetermined temperature programs. The invention also relates to a process of making an injector according to the invention, and to a process of refitting an existing S/SL injector. The invention further concerns a gas analytical system comprising an injector according to the invention, and to a process of analysing a sample with such gas analytical system.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.