Field-portable Instrument Research Articles

Identification of hazardous organic substances for fire investigation with portable GC-MS

First responders employ field-portable gas chromatograph - mass spectrometers (GC-MS) to chemically evaluate compounds that may be drugs, explosives, poisonous industrial chemicals or materials, chemical warfare agents, or other dangerous substances. They can measure a wide range of gases, volatile and semi-volatile liquids, and some solids' vapor emissions. Field-portable instrumentation is easily deployable to identify hazardous substances in-situ during an incident response. Using this strategy, real-time targeted risk mitigation and management decisions may be taken to put stronger safety precautions in place and help resolve incidents. The portable GC-MS was able to provide preliminary analytical data on the volatile organic chemicals present in air samples taken from both active and extinguished fires, according to controlled field testing.

Peatland Plant Spectral Response as a Proxy for Peat Health, Analysis Using Low-Cost Hyperspectral Imaging Techniques

Peatland habitats represent key environmental resources that are a critical component in climate change mitigation strategies. However, many of these environmental settings are facing significant levels of erosion and degradation which, over time, will result in the loss of these key environments. Traditional monitoring techniques for these settings require invasive methods, disrupting the natural environment and potentially leading to further losses if incorrectly administered. In this article, we provide a non-invasive, cost-effective alternative to peatland health monitoring through the implementation of low-cost hyperspectral imaging techniques. Using common peatland plant species as a proxy for underlying peat health, we monitor the spectral response of Sphagnum plants under varying degrees of water stress to document their spectral response under these conditions. For this research, we utilise a low-cost, semi-portable High-Resolution Hyperspectral Imager capable of resolving mm-scale targets in conjunction with the ultra-low-cost Hyperspectral Smartphone that represents a completely accessible fully field portable instrument allowing for rapid and accurate on-site measurements. Both instruments are shown to provide accurate and robust results, capturing subtle changes in spectral response prior to their appearance within visual datasets enabling the use of mitigation and restoration techniques before the onset of more damaging conditions.

Nutritional quality screening of oat groats by vibrational spectroscopy using field-portable instruments

This study evaluated the performance of low-cost, real-time, and field-deployable spectroscopic instruments operating at near-infrared (NIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) wavelengths for measuring quality traits (β-glucan, starch, protein, and lipid) of oats to support breeding selection. Samples were kindly provided by PepsiCo R&D (n = 150) as oat groats. A handheld FT-NIR sensor (1350–2560 nm) measured spectra of ground and intact oat samples, while a portable FT-IR spectrometer (4000–650 cm −1) measured ground samples only. Several laboratory reference methods were used to measure β-glucan, starch, protein, and lipid composition to develop spectroscopic analysis models based on Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR). Best model performance was obtained from NIR spectra of ground groats, with standard error of prediction (SEP) for β-glucan, starch, protein, and lipid of 0.2%, 1.0%, 0.6%, and 0.3%, respectively. PLSR models for the MIR spectra exhibited similar predictive accuracy. The performance of these PLSR models either matched or outperformed NIR techniques reported in the literature using portable and benchtop systems. Therefore, novel miniaturized NIR sensors can provide breeders with a rapid method (15 s) to screen for unique traits in the field with equivalent reliability and sensitivity as benchtop systems.

Aspects of Mineral Exploration Thinking

Editor’s note: The aim of the Geology and Mining series is to introduce early career professionals and students to various aspects of mineral exploration, development, and mining in order to share the experiences and insight of each author on the myriad of topics involved with the mineral industry and the ways in which geoscientists contribute to each. Abstract Successful exploration requires an understanding of ore deposit models, the experience to recognize ore guides in an outcrop, nonlinear thinking, and some intuition. Models, using porphyry Cu deposits as examples, combine magmatic and hydrothermal processes; however, process and the results of process are different. Models provide important understanding of process but are not ore guides and do not drive discoveries; models function as rules that inhibit prediscovery exploration thinking. Results of the genetic process are recorded in descriptive models that do not reflect the considerable geologic variations existing between the hundreds of known porphyry Cu deposits. Discoveries and discovery cycles are driven by nonlinear thinking about ore guides visible in outcrop, not by genetic or descriptive models. Reality in an outcrop typically departs from generalized models. Reinterpretations that lead to drilling prospects rejected by previous exploration groups is what makes many discoveries. Increasingly, field-portable instruments for mineral and chemical analyses will add efficiencies. The most important product of early exploration work is the geologic map, defined here as a decision-making document. Mapping of ore guides in any ore-forming system invariably leads to sampling of outcrops where high grading can help geologists rig the odds in their favor. However, the objective is a highly profitable mine, not just a high-grade sample. That means the mineralization must be sufficiently continuous to build the inventory of recoverable metal required for a profitable mine, regardless of grade. High grade gets you interested, but continuity gets the mine. The principal intangible in any discovery is intuition, often described as nothing more or less than recognition, and it invariably involves experience. Perhaps the only tangible expression of intuition is displayed by individuals or teams that are unwilling to abandon a complex prospect, a behavior often described in case histories as tenacity.

Application of X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry in plant science: Solutions, threats, and opportunities

X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry is a nondestructive, rapid, simultaneous multi‐elemental imaging methodology for plant materials. Its applications are broad and cover most of the elements with varying concentration below the parts per million (ppm). XRF is a well‐established atomic spectrometric technique that is also being used as a field portable instrumentation. In recent decades, XRF has been considered a very versatile tool for plant nutrition diagnosis due to its fast and multi‐elemental analytical imaging response directly from a solid sample. In this review, we have mainly focused on the recent developments and advancements in XRF spectrometry to analyze plant materials. We have also included the fundamental aspects and instrumentation for XRF spectrometry for its use in plants imaging. We have also covered the use of XRF for vegetal tissues and plant leaves. Mainly, we have briefly focused on some features of sampling procedures and calibration strategies regarding the use of XRF for plant tissues. Microchemical imaging applications by XRF, μ‐XRF, μ‐SRXRF, and TXRF have been covered for a wide variety of plant tissues such as leaves, roots, stems, and seeds.

Comparison of Spectroscopic Techniques for Determining the Peroxide Value of 19 Classes of Naturally Aged, Plant-Based Edible Oils.

The peroxide value of edible oils is a measure of the degree of oxidation, which directly relates to the freshness of the oil sample. Several studies previously reported in the literature have paired various spectroscopic techniques with multivariate analyses to rapidly determine peroxide values using field portable and process instrumentation; those efforts presented "best-case scenarios" with oils from narrowly defined training and test sets. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the use of near- and mid-infrared absorption and Raman scattering spectroscopies on oil samples from different oil classes, including seasonal and vendor variations, to determine which measurement technique or combination thereof is best for predicting peroxide values. Following peroxide value assays of each oil class using an established titration-based method, global and global-subset calibration models were constructed from spectroscopic data collected on the 19 oil classes used in this study. Spectra from each optical technique were used to create partial least squares regression calibration models to predict the peroxide value of unknown oil samples. A global peroxide value model based on near-infrared (8 mm optical path length) oil measurements produced the lowest RMSEP (4.9), followed by 24 mm optical path length near infrared (5.1), Raman (6.9) and 50 µm optical path length mid-infrared (7.3). However, it was determined that the Raman RMSEP resulted from chance correlations. Global peroxide value models based on low-level fusion of the NIR (8 and 24 mm optical path length) data and all infrared data produced the same RMSEP of 5.1. Global subset models, based on any of the spectroscopies and olive oil training sets from any class (pure, extra light, extra virgin), all failed to extrapolate to the non-olive oils. However, the near-infrared global subset model built on extra virgin olive oil could extrapolate to test samples from other olive oil classes. This work demonstrates the difficulty of developing a truly global method for determining peroxide value of oils.

EXPRESS: Comparison of Spectroscopic Techniques for Determining the Peroxide Value of 19 Classes of Naturally Aged, Plant-Based Edible Oils.

The peroxide value (PV) of edible oils is a measure of the degree of oxidation, which directly relates to the freshness of the oil sample. Several studies previously reported in the literature have paired various spectroscopic techniques with multivariate analyses to rapidly determine PVs using field portable and process instrumentation; those efforts presented âbest-caseâ scenarios with oils from narrowly defined training and test sets. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the use of near- and mid-infrared absorption and Raman scattering spectroscopies on oil samples from different oil classes, including seasonal and vendor variations, to determine which measurement technique, or combination thereof, is best for predicting PVs. Following PV assays of each oil class using an established titration-based method, global and global-subset calibration models were constructed from spectroscopic data collected on the 19 oil classes used in this study. Spectra from each optical technique were used to create partial least squares regression (PLSR) calibration models to predict the PV of unknown oil samples. A global PV model based on near-infrared (8 mm optical path length â OPL) oil measurements produced the lowest RMSEP (4.9), followed by 24 mm OPL near infrared (5.1), Raman (6.9) and 50 μm OPL mid-infrared (7.3). However, it was determined that the Raman RMSEP resulted from chance correlations. Global PV models based on low-level fusion of the NIR (8 and 24 mm OPL) data and all infrared data produced the same RMSEP of 5.1. Global subset models, based on any of the spectroscopies and olive oil training sets from any class (pure, extra light, extra virgin), all failed to extrapolate to the non-olive oils. However, the near-infrared global subset model built on extra virgin olive oil could extrapolate to test samples from other olive oil classes.

IDirac: a field-portable instrument for long-term autonomous measurements of isoprene and selected VOCs

Abstract. The iDirac is a new instrument to measure selected hydrocarbons in the remote atmosphere. A robust design is central to its specifications, with portability, power efficiency, low gas consumption and autonomy as the other driving factors in the instrument development. The iDirac is a dual-column isothermal oven gas chromatograph with photoionisation detection (GC-PID). The instrument is designed and built in-house. It features a modular design, with the novel use of open-source technology for accurate instrument control. Currently configured to measure biogenic isoprene, the system is suitable for a range of compounds. For isoprene measurements in the field, the instrument precision (relative standard deviation) is ±10 %, with a limit of detection down to 38 pmol mol−1 (or ppt). The instrument was first tested in the field in 2015 during a ground-based campaign, and has since shown itself suitable for deployment in a variety of environments and platforms. This paper describes the instrument design, operation and performance based on laboratory tests in a controlled environment as well as during deployments in forests in Malaysian Borneo and central England.

Petrophysics and mineral exploration: a workflow for data analysis and a new interpretation framework

ABSTRACTAs mineral exploration seeks deeper targets, there will be a greater reliance on geophysical data and a better understanding of the geological meaning of the responses will be required, and this must be achieved with less geological control from drilling. Also, exploring based on the mineral system concept requires particular understanding of geophysical responses associated with altered rocks. Where petrophysical datasets of adequate sample size and measurement quality are available, physical properties show complex variations, reflecting the combined effects of various geological processes. Large datasets, analysed as populations, are required to understand the variations. We recommend the display of petrophysical data as frequency histograms because the nature of the data distribution is easily seen with this form of display. A petrophysical dataset commonly contains a combination of overlapping sub‐populations, influenced by different geological factors. To understand the geological controls on physical properties in hard rock environments, it is necessary to analyse the petrophysical data not only in terms of the properties of different rock types. It is also necessary to consider the effects of processes such as alteration, weathering, metamorphism and strain, and variables such as porosity and stratigraphy. To address this complexity requires that much more supporting geological information be acquired than in current practice. The widespread availability of field portable instruments means quantitative geochemical and mineralogical data can now be readily acquired, making it unnecessary to rely primarily on categorical rock classification schemes. The petrophysical data can be combined with geochemical, petrological and mineralogical data to derive explanations for observed physical property variations based not only on rigorous rock classification methods, but also in combination with quantitative estimates of alteration and weathering. To understand how geological processes will affect different physical properties, it is useful to define three end‐member forms of behaviour. Bulk behaviour depends on the physical properties of the dominant mineral components. Density and, to a lesser extent, seismic velocity show such behaviour. Grain and texture behaviour occur when minor components of the rock are the dominate controls on its physical properties. Grain size and shape control grain properties, and for texture properties the relative positions of these grains are also important. Magnetic and electrical properties behave in this fashion. Thinking in terms of how geological processes change the key characteristics of the major and minor mineralogical components allows the resulting changes in physical properties to be understood and anticipated.

Data quality improvement for field-portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry through the use of isotopic analogues for in-situ calibration

Environmental contextQuantitative field-based sampling of airborne volatile organics continues to be a challenge because of the absence of laboratory supplies and facilities. Approaches are required to overcome poor data arising from difficulties with calibration of fielded instruments. This method normalises responses across portable thermal desorption gas-chromatography mass spectrometers and requires no advance calibration, enabling accurate and precise use of previously established response factors ported from the laboratory to fielded instruments. AbstractSorbent capture provides a process for collecting airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for analysis by thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS). Under typical laboratory conditions, analytical standards are readily available and calibration of instrumentation is a routine process. In contrast, field-portable instruments are standardised using a representative curve prepared on a limited number of instruments and then applied to fielded units. The performance of field-portable TD-GC-MS systems when deployed to multiple remote sites was studied, and a large variability in sensitivity and performance was observed when using the manufacturer-prescribed methods for calibration of instruments and normalisation of the data. This variability was remedied by the implementation of a non-interfering calibration that is pre-incorporated onto the sorbent media. Use of an in-situ calibration curve constructed using stable isotope labelled standards provided robust quantification, accuracy of measurement and diagnostic capabilities for malfunctioning fielded equipment. Pre-incorporation of isotopic analogues onto thermal desorption tubes in advance of field distribution greatly improves the accuracy and reproducibility of analyses and demonstrates, for the first time, definitive quantification of target analytes using field-portable GC-MS in an operational theatre.

Real-Time Measurement of Airborne Carbon Nanotubes in Workplace Atmospheres.

With growing applications of carbon nanomaterials, there is a concern over health risks presented by inhalation of carbon nanotube (CNT) aerosol in workplace atmospheres. Current methods used for CNT aerosol measurement lack selectivity to specific form of carbonaceous component or allotrope of interest. Moreover, the detection limits of these methods are also inadequate for short-term monitoring. Here, we describe, for the first time, a near real-time, field-portable instrument for selective quantification of airborne CNT concentration. The approach uses an automated cyclical scheme involving collect-analyze-ablate steps to obtain continuous near real-time measurement using Raman spectroscopy. The method achieves significantly lower detection limits by employing corona-assisted particle microconcentration for efficient coupling with laser Raman spectroscopy. A combination of techniques involving (i) use of characteristic Raman peaks, (ii) distinct ratio of disordered and graphitic peaks, and (iii) principal component classification and regression is employed to identify and quantify the specific form of the aerosolized carbonaceous nanomaterial. We show that the approach is capable of selectively quantifying trace single-walled CNT in the presence of interfering agents such as diesel particulate matter. The detection limit of the method for the single-walled CNT studied in this work was 60 ng m-3, corresponding to a 10 min aerosol collection period, which is significantly lower than that for the NIOSH Method 5040 (∼0.15 μg m-3 for an 8-h collection on a 25 mm filter at 4 L min-1), a commonly used method for elemental carbon. We demonstrate the automated real-time capability of this field-portable method by continuously measuring a transient single-walled CNT aerosol.

Optimizing Analytical Complexities in Emerging Field-Portable Chemical Detection Instruments for Harsh Environments and Public Health Science

Optimizing Analytical Complexities in Emerging Field-Portable Chemical Detection Instruments for Harsh Environments and Public Health Science

UIISScan 1.1: A Field portable high-throughput platform tool for biomedical and agricultural applications

The colorimetric sensing technology has evolved into an essential tool for high-throughput analysis including portability and cost-effectiveness among available biomedical and agricultural screening approach. In this endeavor, the objective of work is to focus on the development of a field-portable instrument based on an Uniform Illumination Imaging System (UIIS), which will facilitate the colorimetric biochemical sensing.The developed field-portable, wavelength independent UIIS has been exploited for (a) rotavirus detection using commercial enzymatic immunoassay based microplate kit; (b) pesticide residue detection and quantification;The proposed system exhibited a good correlation in comparison to another two conventional techniques, i.e., multi-plate reader (r = 0.9991938) and LC-MS/MS (r = 0.998877399) with a short analysis time of 5 min for 95 test samples. Moreover, the feasibility of UIIS system has also been explored as field-portable enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) plate reader. By incorporating the Mahalanobis distance calculation, the advanced algorithm has been investigated and developed to analyze the data. The overall dataset was transformed into a matrix format to give a good correlation with a conventional plate reader, i.e., r = 0.915389612.Internet of things (IoT) enabled decision support system can be exploited by using big data analytics. Finally, test results can be shared with concerned stakeholders and the remote users. Thus, the developed UIIS will help to identify potential public health threats expeditiosly compared to conventional time consuming process of sample submission to the laboratory for analysis.

Real time depth-of-interaction correction for coded-aperture, gamma-ray images

The size of the image pixels in a coded-aperture image is a function of the mask hole size, the focal length (mask-to-detector spacing), and the distance to the scene being imaged. Gamma-ray imaging instruments designed for field use can have a focal length that is comparable to the thickness of the detector, resulting in radially blurred images because a range of image pixel sizes contributes to the image. If so equipped, one can use a detector’s depth-of-interaction resolution to eliminate this blurring by binning images formed from different depths within the detector to a common image scale. However, binning to a common image scale requires handling a number of issues including spatially dependent energy weighting, spatially varying offset corrections, and spatially correlated uncertainties. This paper explores these issues and provides effective solutions that have been implemented for online use in a field-portable instrument.

The Incorporation of Field Portable Instrumentation Into Human Planetary Surface Exploration

AbstractField portable instrumentation, such as in situ geochemical analyzers or broader field of view instruments like multispectral imagers or other imaging capabilities, has the potential to dramatically increase the science return of a planetary surface exploration mission. However, more work is needed to determine how emerging portable technologies should be designed and implemented into evolving mission architectures. This work summarizes the efforts of the RIS4E (Remote, In Situ and Synchrotron Studies for Science and Exploration) SSERVI (Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute) team in investigating how field portable instruments should be including into planning for future exploration EVAs (extravehicular activities). EVA crews of geologists and astronauts tested a variety of portable and handheld technologies at both the December 1974 lava flow, Kilauea Volcano, Hawai'i, and Kilbourne Hole, New Mexico, both of which are planetary analog sites. The timeline data gathered during instrument deployment were then mapped onto EVA timelines used in large‐scale NASA planetary surface exploration analog missions. Results and recommendations for future instrument hardware and software development are discussed, as is the operational framework necessary for incorporating in situ analytical capabilities into future planetary surface exploration.

Performance Comparison of Field Portable Instruments to the Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer Using Monodispersed and Polydispersed Sodium Chloride Aerosols.

This study compared the performance of the following field portable aerosol instrument sets to performance of the reference Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS): the handheld CPC-3007, the portable aerosol mobility spectrometer (PAMS), the NanoScan scanning mobility particle sizer (NanoScan SMPS) combined with an optical particle sizer (OPS). Tests were conducted with monodispersed and polydispersed aerosols. Monodispersed aerosols were controlled at the approximate concentration of 1 × 105 particles cm-3 and four monodispersed particle sizes of 30, 60, 100, and 300 nm were selected and classified for the monodispersed aerosol test, while three different steady-state concentration levels (low, medium, and high: ~8 × 103, 5 × 104, and 1 × 105 particles cm-3, respectively) were selected for the polydispersed aerosol test. For all four monodispersed aerosol sizes, particle concentrations measured with the NanoScan SMPS were within 13% of those measured with the reference SMPS. Particle concentrations measured with the PAMS were within 25% of those measured with the reference SMPS. Concentrations measured with the handheld condensation particle counter were within 30% of those measured with the reference SMPS. For the polydispersed aerosols, the particle sizes and concentrations measured with the NanoScan-OPS compared most favorably with those measured with the reference SMPS for three different concentration levels of low, medium, and high (concentration deviations ≤10% for all three concentration levels; deviations of particle size ≤4%). Although the particle-size comparability between the PAMS and the reference SMPS was quite reasonable with the deviations within 10%, the polydispersed particle concentrations measured with the PAMS were within 36% of those measured with the reference SMPS. The results of this evaluation will be useful for selecting a suitable portable device for our next workplace study phase of respiratory protection assessment. This study also provided the advantages and limitations of each individual portable instrument and therefore results from this study can be used by industrial hygienists and safety professionals, with appropriate caution, when selecting a suitable portable instrument for aerosol particle measurement in nanotechnology workplaces.

Capillary Electrophoresis Sensitivity Enhancement Based on Adaptive Moving Average Method.

In the present work, we demonstrate a novel approach to improve the sensitivity of the "out of lab" portable capillary electrophoretic measurements. Nowadays, many signal enhancement methods are (i) underused (nonoptimal), (ii) overused (distorts the data), or (iii) inapplicable in field-portable instrumentation because of a lack of computational power. The described innovative migration velocity-adaptive moving average method uses an optimal averaging window size and can be easily implemented with a microcontroller. The contactless conductivity detection was used as a model for the development of a signal processing method and the demonstration of its impact on the sensitivity. The frequency characteristics of the recorded electropherograms and peaks were clarified. Higher electrophoretic mobility analytes exhibit higher-frequency peaks, whereas lower electrophoretic mobility analytes exhibit lower-frequency peaks. On the basis of the obtained data, a migration velocity-adaptive moving average algorithm was created, adapted, and programmed into capillary electrophoresis data-processing software. Employing the developed algorithm, each data point is processed depending on a certain migration time of the analyte. Because of the implemented migration velocity-adaptive moving average method, the signal-to-noise ratio improved up to 11 times for sampling frequency of 4.6 Hz and up to 22 times for sampling frequency of 25 Hz. This paper could potentially be used as a methodological guideline for the development of new smoothing algorithms that require adaptive conditions in capillary electrophoresis and other separation methods.

Microelectromechanical system gravimeters as a new tool for gravity imaging.

A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) gravimeter has been manufactured with a sensitivity of 40 ppb in an integration time of 1 s. This sensor has been used to measure the Earth tides: the elastic deformation of the globe due to tidal forces. No such measurement has been demonstrated before now with a MEMS gravimeter. Since this measurement, the gravimeter has been miniaturized and tested in the field. Measurements of the free-air and Bouguer effects have been demonstrated by monitoring the change in gravitational acceleration measured while going up and down a lift shaft of 20.7 m, and up and down a local hill of 275 m. These tests demonstrate that the device has the potential to be a useful field-portable instrument. The development of an even smaller device is underway, with a total package size similar to that of a smartphone.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'The promises of gravitational-wave astronomy'.

Person-portable equipment in environmental forensic investigations: application to fire scenes

Environmental forensic investigations can be complex because pollutants are often not visible, making it difficult to determine the types of pollutants and their source. Emergency scenarios require immediate action to protect environmental and/or human health, and having limited knowledge of these pollutants makes this complicated. Recent advancements in field-portable instrumentation pave the way for rapid on-site analyses for real-time monitoring of hazardous compounds at incident sites, thereby providing valuable intelligence to direct subsequent actions. Fires can pose significant risk to human and/or environmental health through the release of hazardous compounds in smoke or run-off water from firefighting activities. Monitoring the release of hazardous organic compounds from fires typically requires complex sampling and laboratory-based protocols. Results from such protocols are not immediately available to first responders. Site risk assessment and management would therefore benefit from accurate in-field identification of the release of hazardous organic compounds. A portable Gas Chromatograph – Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) was evaluated for the identification of hazardous organic compounds in air and water samples at fire scenes. Preliminary results demonstrated that deployment of such instrumentation has the potential to provide first responders with a rapid on-site assessment tool, allowing for more proactive protection of environmental and human health.

Evaluation of thermal desorption analysis on a portable GC–MS system

ABSTRACTThe HAPSITE-ER-TD (Hazardous Air Pollutants on Site Extended Range HAPSITE-ER) portable gas chromatograph–mass spectrometer (GC–MS) combines the sensitivity of a thermal desorption (TD) GC–MS with the advantages of field-portable instrumentation. Though previous iterations of the HAPSITE have been extensively evaluated in the literature, performance assessment of the TD-equipped instrument is lacking. In this manuscript, the variability in the HAPSITE-ER-TD response was established for both internal standards and test compounds across three instruments over a 5-week time course. These data show poor normalised internal standard reproducibility with %RSD values from 17.84% to 49.97% on the HAPSITE-ER-TD when compared to a bench-top instrument (%RSD < 11.6%), suggesting that use of TD tubes preloaded with an internal standard may be valuable for normalisation purposes. Though our determined method detection limit (MDL) values reveal that substantial variabilities exist between separate HAPSITE-ER-TD systems, MDL values comparable to the standard bench-top equipment can be achieved. Additionally, data generated with the TO-15/TO-17 65 component target compound mix and JP-8 jet fuel show statistically significant (p value = 0.0014) compound-dependent system carryover on the HAPSITE-ER-TD, indicating that procedural modifications to eliminate instrumental carryover may be necessary. This study establishes several limitations associated with the use of the HAPSITE-ER TD accessory with suggestions for addressing the shortcomings to allow for reliable field use.