
The CDS Pyroprobe proportional–integral–derivative (PID)controller is an analog circuit designed to quickly ramp sample temperatures above 600°C for rapid pyrolysis without temperature overshoot. A new feature in the 6000 Pyroprobe institutes a multi-ramp tool, which allows for up to 3 temperature ramps per method. This can be used to reach a fast equilibration time at low temperatures, which helps in the analysis of VOCs without sorbent trapping.
In this application, the multi-ramp feature was used to create an ultra-quick heating for thermal extraction of VOCs. Compounds with retention times under 10 minutes are traditionally collected onto an a sorbent trap for refocusing. Due to a quick ramp technique used with the Pyroprobe multi-ramp feature, in conjuction with the Pyroprobe’s low dead volume, under 30 μL, early eluting compounds can be extracted directly to the GC-MS while retaining a sharp peak shape.