Methods and systems for characterizing a sorbent tube

A chromatographic system, comprising:

• a carrier gas inlet for supplying carrier gas;
• a chromatographic column for receiving the carrier gas;
• a flow path through which the carrier gas is communicated from said carrier gas inlet to said chromatographic column;
• a vessel disposed in said flow path, said vessel having an adsorbent disposed therein for adsorbing and desorbing analytes to be measured;
• wherein said vessel includes an inlet and an outlet for communicating the carrier gas through said vessel;
• and
• at least one sensor in communication with said flow path, the at least one sensor providing at least one measurement;
• wherein the system determines a differential pressure along the adsorbent material based on the at least one measurement and provides a unit flow per unit pressure for the carrier gas in said vessel based on the differential pressure, a flow rate at said vessel outlet, and a viscosity of the carrier gas.