Gas Digital Microfluidic Platform: Application to Highly Volatile Compound Preconcentration.

Digital microfluidics platforms (DMFPs) have shown their efficiency in sample handling, using elementary operations that may be combined to perform complex applications. In this article, we present a new platform for gaseous samples handling involving a two-step digital preconcentration using the miniaturized preconcentrators of the DMFP. Choosing -pentane at very low concentrations as a model for highly volatile compounds, poorly retained on the sorbent, the DMFP allowed bypassing the limit set by the breakthrough volume by repeating an elementary operation.

Miniaturization of breath sampling with silicon chip: application to volatile tobacco markers tracking.

This work presents the performances of silicon micro-preconcentrators chips for breath sampling. The silicon chips were coupled to a handheld battery powered system for breath sampling and direct injection in a laboratory gas chromatography mass spectrometry system through thermal desorption (TD). Performances of micro-preconcentrators were first compared to commercial TD for benzene trapping.

Origin, Analytical Characterization, and Use of Human Odor in Forensics.

Developing a strategy to characterize the odor prints of individuals should be relevant to support identification obtained using dogs in courts of justice. This article proposes an overview of the techniques used for the forensic profiling of human odor. After reviewing the origin of human odor-both genetic and physiological-the different analytical steps from sample collection to statistical data processing are presented.