#flavourspec

Imspex is working on GC-IMS to decode the hidden substances inside the complex matters. The technology has greater implications in various industries including detection of VOCs in waste water, VOCs in food production, VOCs in beer brewing and more.

What is GC-IMS testing and how does it work?

So you want gas chromatography's selectivity and ion-mobility spectrometry's sensitivity? Impsex's GC-IMS combines the best of both worlds, providing it a broad range of applications. A short multicapillary gas chromatographic separation column is connected to the ion mobility spectrometer (IMS). This implies that individual substances in complicated combinations can be separated and analysed.

Individual chemicals can be separated and analysed using GC-IMS. Dortmund, G.A.S. When the chemicals in a sample are separated by the GC-column, they are ionised and sequentially enter the IMS's 'drift area.' Ions drift in an electrical field in the opposite direction of a drift gas's flow (either nitrogen or clean, dry air).

Ions will wander at varied speeds according on their charge, mass, and shape, eventually reaching the detector one by one. As a result, a two-dimensional data matrix is created. The GC-IMS by Impsex presents the findings of the analysis in a colour contours image within minutes, allowing users to visually compare samples to a reference sample.

APPLICATIONS of GC-IMC

It has some really important applications for VOCs in food production as well. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in four Chinese freshwater fishes were analysed using two innovative methods: gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) and ultrafast gas chromatography electronic-nose (uf-GC E-nose). The GC-IMS offers the advantages of rapid detection and excellent sensitivity. With GC-IMS, the qualitative analysis of the chemicals is more accurate (larger data volume, leading to a better in-depth statistical analysis).

IMSPEX's GC-IMS technology, Flavourspec, might provide a non-destructive, quick, low-cost, and reliable method for flavour analysis. The established fingerprints of VOCs in food production quality control have shown to be of considerable use, according to the approaches.

As a fundamental technique, fast GC (gas chromatography) - IMS (ion mobility spectrometry) is sufficiently adaptable in terms of chemical detection capabilities. The use of this dual technology can give unique solutions in a variety of operating situations. GC-IMS is the next step forward in the growth of IMS technology. This detector configuration may be tailored to detect and identify explosives, ICAO markers, and drugs using the benefits of IMS (compact, high sensitivity, robust, operates at atmospheric pressure, etc.) and the chemical selection capacity of GC. This presentation will provide a technical overview of GC-IMS and detail a number of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) systems that might be used in a variety of settings. The Orion detects explosives, the Ariel detects drugs, the Sirius detects both explosives and narcotics, and the NorthStar detects both explosives and narcotics.

What can we do to assist?

Imspex uses a G.A.S. Dortmund gas chromatograph-ion-mobility spectrometer, which is specialised in ion-mobility spectrometry. Our GC-IMS testing is dependably robust and accurate since it is carried out by PhD scientists that specialise in odour/aroma and sensory topics. We also have more than 30 years of expertise with odour concerns, providing us a unique viewpoint on your analytical needs.

Do you want to learn more?

Did you know, IMS trace analysis is utilised for airport security? Imspex conducts GC-IMS tests on computers and cameras at various airports to determine whether they have come into touch with explosive compounds. Apart from that, it may be used to evaluate VOCs in wastewater.

With the unlimited potential of greater industrial potential, technology will play a great role in food production quality control, beer brewing, water sanitation and more.