Static headspace analysis is often considered to be useful only when the analytes of interest are present in high concentrations. Although techniques like solid phase microextraction (SPME) and dynamic headspace (DHS) have better extraction effi ciencies, due to advances in mass spectrometry design, VOCs can now be detected in the parts per billion range using static headspace. Static headspace is routinely used for blood alcohol determination and for the analysis of residual solvents in pharmaceuticals. Method development is fast and simple, usually with little to no sample preparation.

Trapping for static headspace injection offers several improvements over simple injection into the GC inlet. Analyte focusing after headspace injection can help to sharpen peaks and reach improved limits of detection for early eluting compounds, which tend to not focus well on the head of the GC column. Trapping also enables analyte stacking over multiple injections from one or more vials. This leads to more mass on column and a further lowering of detection limits.

This application note demonstrates the application of the hot injection and trapping headspace technique (HIT-HS) for determination of volatile compounds in flavored kombucha tea.