Headspace techniques for volatile sampling

Abstract

Characterization of the volatile composition by analytical techniques usually requires the previous isolation, and occasionally the concentration, of these compounds. For these purposes, headspace (HS) techniques, both static headspace (S-HS) and dynamic headspace (D-HS), are usually considered. HS techniques are commonly coupled to gas chromatography; however, the direct coupling to mass spectrometry, without prior separations systems, is an operation mode that is gaining popularity for the development of fast and economic methods of analysis. In this chapter, fundamentals and instrumentation of HS sampling are described and the specific parameters that need to be optimized before applying an HS method are also discussed. Special emphasis has been put in covering the most relevant advances of these techniques, discussing specific examples of the most extended applications regarding food, environmental and pharmaceutical analysis.