TurboMatrix

headspace and headspace trap samplers for GC

the clear choice for any GC

or GC/MS volatile-analysis system
unparalleled precision and

Figure 1. TurboMatrix Headspace 40 (right) with Clarus Gas Chromatograph (left).

There are many reasons why PerkinElmer’s instant access to system functionality. Set parameters,
TurboMatrix™ Headspace (HS) and high-sensitivity recall stored methods and start analyses, all with a few
Headspace Trap samplers are the clear choice for any quick presses of the touch pad, making it easy for both
GC or GC/MS system for the analysis of volatile new and experienced users.
compounds. Advanced technology and thoughtful
The system guides parameter selection and experiment
design ensure that our systems can meet the diverse
setup by providing a graphical representation of the
requirements of your application needs. You define
headspace sampler operation — from vial to column —
your performance and throughput requirements. Our
with an accompanying display of either the set points
proven TurboMatrix Headspace technology delivers on
or the current temperature and pressure conditions.
your expectations, providing unparalleled precision
The display automatically adapts to the current hardware
and ease-of-use for any volatile application need.
configuration, showing only active functions as they
Building on more than 40 years of experience in GC are added or removed.
sample-handling and introduction, TurboMatrix
For routine analyses, the headspace sampler features
Headspace samplers incorporate proven pressure-
one-touch operation. After loading the samples, you just
balanced sampling for better performance.
need to enter a range of vial numbers and press START
(Figure 3). Headspace sampling is easy to automate, so
Modern user interface
24-hour unattended operation is possible. The unit also
increases productivity
features priority vial sampling, enabling you to interrupt
The intuitive, multilingual touch-screen graphical a run in order to insert an urgent sample for analysis.
user interface provides easy control of the sampler in
multiple languages (Figure 2). The interface provides

2
ease-of-use for any application

Improve sample throughput The right tool for your needs

Volatile compounds in almost any sample matrix Every laboratory is unique in its sample-handling
can be determined simply and quickly by headspace requirements. Whether you run a high number of
gas chromatography. Headspace sampling provides samples on a routine basis, require headspace to
a solvent-free extraction of volatile compounds from occasionally troubleshoot quality-control problems
liquid and solid samples, while eliminating the time- or use more sophisticated techniques such as cryofocusing
consuming and error-producing steps required in other or analyte trapping to handle difficult samples, our
GC sample-preparation techniques, such as purge- TurboMatrix family of Headspace samplers can provide
and-trap or solvent extraction. Samples can be sealed a system to meet your needs.
in headspace vials at the point of collection, reducing
Since all sizes of capillary columns can be interfaced
analyte losses that can occur with other techniques
easily, analysis of a wide variety of samples is possible.
during sample handling and storage.
By providing your choice of entry-level, mid-range
The TurboMatrix Headspace sampling system maximizes or high-capacity units, the headspace instruments can
sample throughput. Equilibration of headspace vapor is satisfy the requirements of virtually any laboratory.
attained under thermostatted temperature conditions. The PerkinElmer® suite of headspace samplers offers
The system thermostats simultaneously up to 12 samples you the ability to extend the system’s capabilities by
at a time, ensuring that the next sample is ready for analysis upgrading from one model to the next or adding
upon completion of the previous run. This produces accessories that provide more capabilities.
significant time savings, since there is no need to wait for
The system is fully self-contained and can be interfaced
the next sample to heat and equilibrate. Furthermore,
to almost any gas chromatograph, giving you access to
repeatability is ensured through precise thermostatting,
PerkinElmer’s proven headspace technology, regardless
an inert sample flow path that minimizes carryover and
of the brand or model GC you have in your laboratory.
the elimination of multiport valves that can cause peak
However, if you are in need of a complete system,
distortion through adsorption and dead volumes.
PerkinElmer is the only supplier that manufactures
Other productivity benefits built into the TurboMatrix a complete solution — from sample handling to
Headspace sampling systems include the ability to data handling.
prioritize sample vials containing rush samples during
an active sequence and a time-saving, pre-programmed
shut-down and wake-up mode that allows for complete
unattended operation.

Figure 3. Simple one-touch start.

Figure 2. Easy-to-use method editor shown in Japanese, German and

English (Chinese, French, Italian, Spanish and Russian also available).
w w w. p e r k i n e l m e r. c o m 3
 sophisticated tools
boost GC performance
Our TurboMatrix Headspace samplers utilize a pneu-
matic pressure-balanced system, a proven technology
Pressure-balanced technology
increases sensitivity that has been used in all PerkinElmer headspace sam-
plers for more than 40 years. This proven technique
Using the pressure-balanced technique, provides higher sensitivity and better performance
the headspace sample is introduced onto the
than alternative systems, which may use valve-and-
column without using a gas syringe, avoiding
loop or syringe-based technology.
fractionation due to pressure changes in the
syringe; and, since the system is closed, there
is no loss of headspace during transfer. The
The pressure-balanced sampling
technique does not require multiport valves, technique
minimizing the number of components in • Produces sharper peaks by rapidly transferring
contact with delicate samples. Before injection, a narrow sample band to the GC column.
the system is on standby with carrier gas flowing
through the column. When the sample reaches
• Offers adjustable injection volume, requiring
equilibrium, the vial is pressurized to the column no hardware changes.
head pressure. During sampling, a solenoid • Avoids fractionation due to pressure changes
valve interrupts the carrier gas supply and the in the syringe.
vial acts as a reservoir of carrier gas, delivering
• Eliminates multiport valves that are prone to
the sample onto the column for the preset
adsorption and may introduce dead volumes.
injection time. At the end of the sampling period,
the valve is reopened and the normal carrier • Provides exceptional reproducibility equal
gas flow resumes. to that obtainable with liquid injection.
• Increases sensitivity since there is no carrier-
gas dilution of sample.
STANDBY PRESSURIZATION SAMPLING

V2
Built-in checks improve confidence
in your analysis
The TurboMatrix HS and HS Trap samplers provide
PGC
V1 Split V1 V1 automated leak checking of the complete system,
PHS
offering maximum sampler integrity.
For TurboMatrix HS Trap samplers, a dynamic leak
PHS > PGC
check improves confidence in your results. As each
vial is sampled, the pressure inside the vial decreases
at a predictable rate. The pressure decay is checked
against a reference profile for each sample vial as it is
analyzed and any leaks in the system or vial seal are
flagged in the system run log. This unique technique*
also identifies whether an incorrect sample volume
has been added to the vial.

* patent pending

4
trap technology provides
up to 100 times lower detection limits

Models with built-in analyte-trapping capability,

available as the TurboMatrix HS-40 Trap and HS-110
Trap configurations, maximize the extraction and
transfer of headspace vapor into the GC column,
thereby lowering the detection limits by up to 100
times. Figure 5 shows a total ion chromatogram (TIC)
for the detection of a 2 part-per-billion (ppb) mixture
of compounds in a U.S. EPA Method 8260 standard.
This standard contains volatile compounds commonly
determined in environmental samples, including
analytes such as dichlorodifluoromethane, vinyl
chloride, 1,4-dioxane, naphthalene and 1,2,3-
trichlorobenzene to name a few. The built-in headspace
trap uses advanced trapping technology developed for
and proven in the TurboMatrix Thermal Desorption
systems to improve detection limits by maximizing the
extraction of volatile compounds from the headspace.

Built-in trap technology also maximizes performance.

An exclusive-design dry purge removes water efficiently.
Figure 4. TurboMatrix HS-40 Trap.
Compared to conventional purge-and-trap technology
which requires long bake-out times periodically
throughout a sample run, sample throughput with the
built-in headspace trap is maximized, allowing a
reduction of up to 25% in sample-handling time. 2-ppb
(TIC)
With the sensitivity advantages provided by headspace- volatile
trapping technology, the application of TurboMatrix organics
Headspace systems can be expanded to a variety of in water

determinations not previously possible, including:

• Environmental — Volatile organic compound deter-

mination in water, soils and solid sample matrices.
• Food packaging — Determination of printed ink
solvents in food packaging films that can impart
off-flavors or off-odors.
• Pharmaceuticals, foods, forensics — Analysis Figure 5. 2-ppb volatile organics in water (U.S. EPA Method 8260B
of organic volatile impurities at lowest possible standard).

detection levels.
• Materials testing—Monomers, polymers and additives
analysis of compounds outgasing from coatings.
how the headspace-trap
technology works
Originally developed for TurboMatrix Thermal
Desorption systems, automated analyte trapping has Trap inlet/outlet Trap surrounded
Vent and desorb
gas connections
by heater
now been expanded for use in headspace sampling
(Figure 6). The principles of this unique technology*
(Figures 7a and 7b) are quite simple:

• Sample is heated inside a sealed vial until equilibrium

is achieved.
• Carrier gas is used to pressurize the vial contents
and the increased pressure is allowed to decay
through the cooled adsorbent trap. This pressuriza-
Easily removable
tion/decay cycling may be repeated several times modular construction Cooling fan
to extract further vapor from the sample in the vial
(Figure 7a). Figure 6. Built-in headspace trap.
• Once the vapor extraction is complete, a flow of
dry carrier gas is passed through the trap to remove
moisture from the sample.
• The trap is then rapidly heated and the desorbed
analytes are carried, via an optional split, by the
carrier gas into the GC column for separation
and quantification (Figure 7b).
PR
Column isolation ensures GC/MS stability
A column-isolation feature allows the carrier-gas flow
into the GC to be maintained during servicing of the
headspace and trapping system even when the headspace
Figure 7a. Vapor extraction from the sample vial onto the trap.
instrument is turned off. This feature is particularly PR=pressure regulator.
useful when mass spectrometric (MS) detection
is being used with the GC.

Internal standard addition for enhanced

analytical performance

The analytical performance of the TurboMatrix

Headspace Trap systems is enhanced with the internal
standard addition accessory. This feature uses a gas- PR

sampling valve to introduce a fixed volume of a

standard gas (i.e. solvent-less) mixture into the sample
vial during initial pressurization. The standard gas
mixture can then be used to standardize the instru-
Figure 7b. Desorption of analytes from the trap into the
ment responses, providing better long-term accuracy GC column.
and precision.

* patent pending
w w w. p e r k i n e l m e r. c o m 6
solve difficult problems
with no sample preparation

TurboMatrix Headspace samplers solve problems and Food & beverage applications
provide answers for difficult applications in many TurboMatrix Headspace systems are used by food and
industries. By eliminating sample preparation, the beverage manufacturers to analyze aroma and flavors,
technique saves time and increases performance. residual solvents and volatile preservatives in foods.
The systems also assess fermentation characteristics
Rapid blood-alcohol analysis of products such as beer and dairy products. Volatile-
TurboMatrix Headspace systems are the industry free fatty acids are produced by bacteria, particularly
standard around the world for the determination of anaerobic bacteria. These acids provide information
alcohol in blood. These simultaneous chromatograms needed to identify the particular bacteria. This chro-
(Figure 8) illustrate the ability of the headspace samplers matogram of volatile-free fatty acids was obtained
to deliver confirmatory results within 1.5 minutes for using a TurboMatrix Headspace system.
ethanol and other required analytes for blood analysis. n-Caprionic
Isocaprionic
With the TurboMatrix HS-110, a full magazine of 110 Heptanoic

vials can be processed in three hours.

Isovaleric
n-Valeric
I-propanol

n-propanol
acetaldehyde

acetone
ethanol

Butyric
methanol

Isobutyric

Formic Proprionic

Acetic
I-propanol

n-propanol
acetone
acetaldehyde

ethanol
methanol

Figure 10. Volatile-free fatty acids.

BTEX in environmental samples

Figure 8. Blood-alcohol analysis.
The technique of headspace sampling provides
a quick and easy method of screening complex
Organic volatile impurities in drugs
environmental samples for petroleum contaminants
Static headspace is the ideal sample-preparation such as benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, xylenes
instrument for the determination of residual solvents (BTEX) and methyl tert-butyl ether.
in drugs as prescribed by U.S. Pharmacopoeia
Chapter <467>, Method IV. m & p-xylene

Benzene
o-xylene
toluene

benzene
ethyl
benzene
methyl t-butyl ether
Dioxane

Methylene chloride Trichloroethylene

Chloroform

Figure 11. BTEX in environmental samples.

Figure 9. Determination of residual solvents in drugs.

w w w. p e r k i n e l m e r. c o m 7
optional accessories
extend the application of your system
You can enhance the capabilities of your TurboMatrix TotalChrom software provides direct sequence and
Headspace sampler by adding specialized accessories. method creation for both headspace and liquid
Our wide range of accessories allows analysis of autosampling, using the Remote Control Software
special samples, improving system performance and (RCS) module. The TurboMatrix HS RCS module
increasing speed. ensures reliable assignment of TurboMatrix HS vial
numbers to TotalChrom data files and reduces the
Intelligent frequency vial shaker risk of data-entry errors.
For certain applications such as ethanol analysis
in blood, the vial shaker will shorten the time needed Remote control software
to achieve equilibrium and increase sample throughput. While the graphical user interface allows easy control
The intelligent frequency shaker guarantees efficient of the headspace sampler, a Remote Control Software
agitation for every sample, regardless of liquid volume package for a PC is also available. Running under
and resonant frequency. Microsoft® Windows® XP, the software provides com-
plete control of the sampler and displays the status of
GC zero dilution liner all parameters. Methods and sequences can be easily
The powerful GC zero dilution liner allows you edited, stored and downloaded to the instrument.
to achieve lower detection limits, sharpen peak shape
and increase throughput for many routine analyses.
Installed in a standard GC capillary injector, this special
hourglass insert connects the fused-silica transfer line
from the headspace sampler to the capillary column,
permitting undiluted and efficient sample transfer.
The insert is optimized for your convenience, making
it easy to connect and disconnect the transfer line,
as well as for performance using splitless transfer with
low dispersion.

Instrument control and data handling

TotalChrom® software simplifies the routine use of
PerkinElmer TurboMatrix Headspace samplers (HS-40,
HS-110, HS-40 Trap and HS-110 Trap models). Enhanced
integration between TotalChrom and TurboMatrix HS Figure 12. Remote Control Software permits complete control of
methods provides streamlined operation, including the TurboMatrix Headspace samplers from a PC, allowing you to
create methods, modify sampling conditions and monitor the status
faster setup times and reduced entry errors. of the sample vials.

8
one company,
one solution
Since the TurboMatrix Headspace samplers are fully
self-contained, they can be interfaced to almost any You can choose from five TurboMatrix
GC system, giving you access to PerkinElmer’s proven Headspace sampler configurations.
headspace technology regardless of the brand or model
TurboMatrix HS-16
GC you have in your laboratory. However, if you are
in need of a complete system, PerkinElmer is the only This entry-level headspace sampler
supplier that manufactures and sells a complete single- holds up to 16 sample vials. The
vendor solution—from sample handling to data handling. unit heats and equilibrates the
next sample so it can be injected
Our family of Clarus® GCs not only features a sleek
when the gas chromatograph is
design — it uses an intuitive touch screen to make GC
ready for the next run.
analysis easier than ever. Plus, our Clarus benchtop
mass spectrometers (MS) have all the tools to perform
TurboMatrix HS-40
routine GC/MS tests, as well as the sophisticated fea-
tures to run complex analyses. The magazine on the mid-range
model holds up to 40 sample vials.
This means you will not struggle to find answers to
The system thermostats up to
applications and service questions — one company
12 vials simultaneously for
provides the complete solution.
higher throughput. A sophisticated
nesting algorithm optimizes timing
Flexible systems expand as your
of vial heating so the sampler is
needs change
always ready for the next sample,
Every laboratory has unique GC sample-handling maximizing throughput.
requirements. Whether you run a high number of
samples on a routine basis, require headspace to TurboMatrix HS-110
occasionally troubleshoot quality-control problems
The high-capacity headspace sampler
or use more sophisticated techniques such as trapping
with 110 vial positions is ideal for
to handle research samples, TurboMatrix Headspace
labs requiring maximum throughput.
samplers will meet your needs.
The instrument uses the same sample-
Instruments are available in your choice of entry- thermostatting technology as the HS-40.
level, mid-range or high-capacity units. And, since
upgradeability is built in, you can adapt your system TurboMatrix HS-40 Trap
to changing requirements by upgrading from one
This model includes all features
model to the next.
of the HS-40 plus the built-in trap
for lower detection limits.

TurboMatrix HS-110 Trap

This model includes all features
of the HS-110 plus the built-in
trap for lower detection limits.

Figure 13. Clarus GC/MS with TurboMatrix HS Trap.

w w w. p e r k i n e l m e r. c o m 9
PerkinElmer, Inc.
PerkinElmer, Inc. is a global technology leader driving Comprehensive service and support for today’s
growth and innovation in Health Sciences and Photonics results-driven lab
markets to improve the quality of life. Combining operational As a world leader in analytical instrumentation,
excellence and technology expertise with an intimate PerkinElmer is the right partner for your application
understanding of your needs, PerkinElmer provides needs. In concert with global distribution of instruments,
products and services for a range of applications that turnkey systems and consumables, we provide factory-
require innovation, precision and reliability. trained global service and support.
PerkinElmer is the only company that designs and PerkinElmer provides you with a comprehensive
manufactures a complete suite of chromatography worldwide service offering that allows you to take
tools — from GC, GC/MS and HPLC systems to care of business and set your sights on what matters
productivity-enhancing accessories like autosamplers, most — results. With over 1000 professionals serving
headspace samplers and thermal desorption systems. more than 125 countries worldwide, PerkinElmer is
And chromatography data management software your single source for instrument care and repair,
provides all the capabilities you need to effectively validation services, software and hardware upgrades,
analyze, manage, report and store data. In addition education and more.
to our Gas Chromatography product line, we offer
a broad range of solutions in Luminescence, AA,
UV/Vis, FT-IR and FT-NIR, HPLC, ICP, ICP-MS,
Thermal Analysis, Elemental Analysis and LIMS.

PerkinElmer Life and

Analytical Sciences
710 Bridgeport Avenue
Shelton, CT 06484-4794 USA
Phone: (800) 762-4000 or
(+1) 203-925-4602
www.perkinelmer.com

For a complete listing of our global offices, visit www.perkinelmer.com/lasoffices

©2007 PerkinElmer, Inc. All rights reserved. The PerkinElmer logo and design are registered trademarks of PerkinElmer, Inc. TurboMatrix is a trademark and PerkinElmer,
Clarus and TotalChrom are registered trademarks of PerkinElmer, Inc. or its subsidiaries, in the United States and other countries. Microsoft and Windows are registered
trademarks of Microsoft, Inc. All other trademarks not owned by PerkinElmer, Inc. or its subsidiaries that are depicted herein are the property of their respective owners.
PerkinElmer reserves the right to change this document at any time without notice and disclaims liability for editorial, pictorial or typographical errors.

006810B_01 KG070709 Printed in USA