Present methods for the development of metabolic profiles are limited to the use of headspace techniques and solvent extraction methods. A new method for the development of saliva profiles which provides information complementary to existing analyses has been developed. The results of the developed methodology provide a reliable, reproducible method for metabolic profiling. Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of the volatile constituents provided positive identification of 39 compounds. Application of the developed protocol toward the investigation of saliva as a vehicle for the non-invasive detection of certain pathological states, specifically diabetes mellitus and liver disorders, may be possible.

A new technique has been developed for the concentration of organics in aqueous solutions. Volumes greater than 100 ml can be utilized in this system, which previously could not have been done without a distillation or solvent extraction procedure. The method is based on the passage of the solution through uncoated capillary columns of various materials such as polyethylene, copper, aluminum, nickel, and many other metal and/or polymer columns of different dimensions. It is possible to achieve trace level analysis at the ppb to ppt level without the interferences inherent in other existing methods. The purification of solvents has been successfully demonstrated in this preliminary study, and will be discussed along with our suggestions for future investigations.

A preliminary study has been carried out to evaluate a new adsorbent, Thermosorb, for trace level organic contaminants. For this purpose, a comparison was made with a well-characterized adsorbent, Tenax GC, using a prepared aqueous solution of trace organic components. In addition, a comparison was made of chromatograms of air contaminants obtained using both of these adsorbents, under equivalent conditions. The results clearly indicated the potential of this thermally stable, inorganic adsorbent for many trace organic substances of environmental interest.

Many of the isomers of fluorocarbons have boiling points which are less than one degree different. Thus it is necessary to use some other basis for their separation on a chromatographic column. One such possibility is gas-solid chromatography. It has been demonstrated that an alumina porous-layer open-tubular (PLOT) column is especially well suited for the analysis of fluoroalkanes and fluorobenzenes. This column is useful for the specific application of the measurement of electron attachment properties of these molecules using the electron-capture detector because of thelack of column bleed.

Eight different sorbents were evaluated for their adsorptivity and desorptivity of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), a plant hormone. Among the sorbents studied, Thermosorb was found to be most efficient in enriching the unionized IAA from dilute aqueous acidic solution. Interfering components in plant leaf matrix could be washed off with water-immiscible organic solvents from a Chromosorb P column, while the ionized carboxylic acids were retained in the adsorbed water on the surface of Chromosorb P.

The products resulting from the reaction between thermal energy electrons and organic compounds have been investigated to further our knowledge of the mode of action of the electron-capture detector. Thermal energy electrons were generated by maintaining a corona discharge between a stainless steel cathode and a silver/silver chloride anode. The effects of electrode geometry, gas composition, gas flow rate, and the physical properties of the test substances were investigated. The design of the reactor was modified to minimize losses of unchanged substrate. Reaction products of benzaldehyde, tolualdehydes, chlorobenzaldehydes, and dichlorobenzenes were identified by combined gas chromatography — mass spectrometry.