TD100-xr

Trace-level contaminant analysis across varied environmental matrices presents a significant challenge for researchers and regulators alike. Achieving sensitivity, reproducibility, and compliance requires robust analytical techniques.

Uncover how advanced thermal desorption–GC–MS methods enable precise, solvent-free detection of pollutants. From microplastics to PFAS, discover how it can support confident environmental monitoring and streamline workflows across solid, liquid, and gaseous samples.

PFAS contamination is not limited to water and soil—these persistent chemicals are also present in indoor environments, including air, dust, and consumer products. Accurate detection is essential for understanding exposure risks and advancing research on indoor air quality.

In this application note, Markes investigates the performance of its TD100-xr™ high-throughput automated thermal desorption (TD) instrument. The instrument is coupled to a gas chromatograph (GC) and a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (MS/MS) for PFAS analysis. This combination enables measurement of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in indoor air, detecting levels as low as 1 pg for Me-FOSA. When utilizing sampling chambers to test materials, it becomes possible to identify the PFAS released into indoor air and quantify the emission rate of such release.

Many semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) are considered hazardous to human health. However, traditional reference methods for measuring SVOCs in ambient air are cumbersome and prone to high uncertainty. Markes carried out an investigation to see if there were any benefits or drawbacks of using hydrogen when measuring SVOCs. Explore the results, and find out more about the advantages of using Markes’ Multi-Gas thermal desorption (TD) with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and hydrogen carrier gas for the analysis of polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

In this application guide, Markes International details the utilization of thermal desorption (TD) for essential applications in food and drink volatile organic compound (VOC) profiling. The guide encompasses a range of applications, such as comparing different cheese brands and enhancing the shelf-life of ready-to-eat fresh-cut fruit. Aroma profiling is emphasized as a crucial tool for manufacturers to identify volatile components, influencing product quality positively or negatively, and enabling quality maintenance and improvement.

In this application note, Markes describes the sampling and analysis of a challenging range of trace-level volatile and semi-volatile vapors of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in air, using GC–MS technology and the TD100-xr™ automated thermal desorption (TD) system.

In this application note, Markes demonstrates how thermal desorption with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD–GC–MS) can be used to monitor the release of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during the application of aqueous filmforming foam (AFFF). The results of the study show that TD–GC–MS can be used to analyze target compounds and screen for non-target compounds, enabling researchers to gain a greater understanding of AFFF emissions.

In this application note, Markes International offers a guide to the basics of thermal desorption, including the basic principles, applications of the technique, different sampling options and answers how and the benefits of applying thermal desorption across a wide range of scenarios.

Breath monitoring has the potential to provide diagnostic solutions for a wide range of diseases. However, its application remains challenging, and many aspects must be taken into consideration when developing and optimizing sampling and analytical parameters.

In this application note, Markes International describes how to optimize the analytical performance of thermal desorption (TD) for those carrying out routine or research monitoring of breath for disease diagnosis. Download the full note below to explore guidance on the major steps in the sampling and laboratory workflow, discover the main analytical challenges, and gain advice on which features and parameter ranges to select.

In this Applications Guide, Markes International describe how thermal desorption (TD) can be used for key applications in the field of food and drink VOC profiling – covering everything from comparing brands of cheese, to improving the shelf-life of ready-to-eat fresh-cut fruit.

In this application note, Markes International demonstrate the quantitative analysis of microplastics using direct thermal desorption (TD) combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Direct desorption of filtrates containing microplastics provides a simple and streamlined sample preparation step while GC–MS analysis produces informationrich volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles. The VOC profiles contain marker compounds to identify and quantify the plastic, along with other chemical signatures that could prove useful in source apportionment, toxicity assessment and regional profiling.

With the increased uptake of hybrid and electric vehicles, non-exhaust emissions are now of growing environmental concern. In this webinar, our guest speaker, Dr Nick Molden, (Emissions Analytics), will demonstrate the use of thermal desorption (TD) for versatile sampling of emissions from exhausts, vehicle interiors and tyres. When coupled with GC×GC–TOF MS this provides improved chemical fingerprinting of emissions to enhance our understanding of how vehicles may impact the environment and human health.

Key learning objectives

• See how GC×GC–TOF MS can gain insight into volatile emissions from car trim materials, such as plastic, textiles and rubber.
• Find out how characterising tyre composition can help us to understand the sources of microplastics being observed in air, water and soil samples.
• Learn how to future-proof your lab in case of expansion of the target lists of regulated compounds.

Who should attend?

• GC-MS analysts, lab supervisors and directors

Certificate of attendance
All webinar participants can request a certificate of attendance, including a learning outcomes summary, for continuing education purposes.

In this video, Gavin Davies, discusses how scientists can get the best from their GC analysis, enabling them to discover more and deliver more across a wide range of applications.

Watch this video to learn about EPA Method 325 and how to effectively monitor benzene levels in and around refineries in a two week cycle. The TD-100 system can be utilized prior to sample injection into a GC-MS. The sample tubes are tracked using a tagging system and store information such as start time, end time and original location of air sample. Interview filmed by SelectScience at Pittcon 2015.

See how collaborating scientists from Cardiff University and the European QUAFETY project use newly developed techniques to profile volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in packaged food. The development of thermal desorption, GC-MS and time-of-flight instrumentation as a single unit has given access to remote sampling, as well as repeat measurements of biologically active compounds. Watch the video to find out more.

The thermal desorption (TD) instruments are safety-certified to run on three gases: helium, nitrogen and hydrogen.

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