Programmed temperature vaporization injection (PTV) in the analysis by gaschromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of the constituents of landfill gas

Trace volatile compounds emitted from both domestic and industrial landfill s have been identified by programmed temperature vaporization injection (PT V) coupled to gas chromatography with detection by ion-trap mass spectromet ry (GC-ITD/MS). The PTV injection system has been developed using a combina tion of two six-port valves to achieve problems of interference in GC-MS wh ile loading sample. A large volume of landfill gas was re-concentrated onto a sorbent trap, then rapidly liberated into the GC-ITD/MS system by progra mmed thermal desorption. Using this method, trace volatile compounds in gas es from both domestic and industrial landfills such as aromatic hydrocarbon s, terpenes, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and sulfur compounds can be identifi ed and quantified.