Advanced volatile compound analysis with GCxIMS

G.A.S. mbH recently showcased the BreathSpec® at analytica in Munich. This device brings together a gas chromatograph and an ion mobility spectrometer (GCxIMS) to detect and measure volatile compounds with exceptional sensitivity. By separating compounds in two stages, it can spot even trace substances in complex samples, down to parts-per-billion levels. While originally designed for human breath analysis, its capabilities make it ideal for environmental monitoring, industrial air quality checks, or testing trace contaminants in water and soil.

One of its key strengths is mobility. The system runs from a single power source and includes a gas circulation unit, meaning it can be set up wherever the measurement is needed—lab or field. Sampling is flexible: gas can be drawn directly into the instrument via a heated line, or collected using simple disposable syringes. Both methods are quick, hygienic, and allow interrupted samples to be repeated immediately, ensuring reliable data every time.

Once collected, samples flow straight into the GC-IMS. The gas chromatograph separates compounds using commercially available columns, while electronic pressure control fine-tunes the flow for reproducible elution time and by that use of the NIST Retention Index database. After eluting from the GC column compounds then enter the IMS, where they are ionised at atmospheric pressure and guided through a drift region by an electric field. When calibrated the resulting signal tells you not only how much of a compound is present but also what it is. This two-dimensional separation delivers clarity even in complex mixtures, and a full scan typically takes typically <10 minutes.

The system can detect a wide range of ionisable compounds. In positive mode, this includes aldehydes, ketones, acids, alcohols, nitriles, mercaptans, and terpenes. In negative mode, it captures NO, H₂S, and halogenated compounds. This versatility makes BreathSpec® a powerful tool for anyone needing rapid, direct analysis without extensive sample preparation or pre-concentration.

In short, BreathSpec® is portable, sensitive, and adaptable. By combining GC resolution with IMS sensitivity, it provides researchers and engineers with a flexible, reliable solution for monitoring volatile compounds wherever they need to measure them.