TC-20â„¢ Multi-tube conditioner and dry-purge unit0 pages

TC-20

™

Multi-tube conditioner and
dry-purge unit
The TC-20 is a compact, stand-alone device for the
simultaneous conditioning of up to 20 industry-standard
(3½″ × ¼″ o.d.) thermal desorption sorbent tubes.
The TC-20 is ideal for analysts who use thermal desorption–GC(MS), and
wish to improve their laboratory’s productivity by avoiding using valuable
instrument time for conditioning sorbent tubes.
Although thermal desorption instruments can condition sorbent tubes prior to
use, they can only do so sequentially. This means that conditioning multiple
tubes can take up a significant amount of time that could otherwise be used for
analytical work. As a dedicated sorbent tube conditioner, the TC-20 frees up your TD–GC(MS) instrument, and also
enhances productivity by processing up to 20 tubes simultaneously. The TC-20 has the additional benefit of
lowering operating costs by allowing helium gas to be replaced with less expensive dry nitrogen.

Sorbent tube conditioning using the TC-20
Product highlights

Markes International Ltd.

T: +44 (0)1443 230935

Up to 20 sorbent tubes can be placed into the gas manifold
block, which is lowered inside the oven unit and locked into
position.
The temperature controller is settable up to 400°C in 1°C
increments, and the timer can be set up to 99 hours and
59 minutes in 1-minute increments.

Dry-purging using the TC-20
The TC-20 can also be used to remove excess water from
sorbent tubes – particularly important when hydrophilic
sorbents have been used. Dry-purging eliminates the
adverse effects water would otherwise have on the detector
(mass spectrometer, electron capture or flame ionisation
detectors). It also helps extend GC column lifetimes.
After sampling, tubes are inserted into a gas manifold block
sampling end-first. Clean, dry carrier gas is then passed
through the tubes in the sampling direction. The flow rate
and time is controlled by the gauges at the front of the
instrument.

F: +44 (0)1443 231531

E: enquiries@markes.com

www.markes.com

• Up to 20 tubes can be conditioned
simultaneously. Using a TD–GC(MS)
system to condition 20 tubes could take
50 hours, whereas it would take just
2½ hours using the TC-20.
• Uses nitrogen rather than expensive
helium.
• Eliminates potential for analytical
instrument contamination.
• Uses a high-capacity charcoal filter to
collect tube effluent and prevent
contamination of laboratory air.
• Purges excess water trapped during
sampling – stops water interfering with
the sample analysis.
• Each tube connection point is designed
to ensure carrier gas flow through an
attached tube, even if not all of the tube
connection points are used.