800 Series Thermal Energy Analyser (TEA)

Frequently Asked Questions

• Which industries use the 800 Series TEA?

  The 800 Series TEA is used across pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food and drink, rubber and elastomers, forensic science, and environmental monitoring. In pharmaceuticals, it supports nitrosamine testing under ICH M7 guidance. In cosmetics, it is used for compliance with EU Cosmetics Regulation EC 1223/2009. Forensic and security laboratories use it for explosive residue screening. The common thread across all of these is the need for selective, trace-level detection in complex sample matrices.

• What types of compounds can the TEA detect?

  The TEA detects compounds containing nitrogen or nitrogen–oxygen functional groups. Common applications include nitrosamines such as NDMA, NDEA, and NDELA in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food contact materials; nitroaromatic compounds and nitrate esters in forensic and security screening; and trace nitrogen compounds in environmental monitoring. The detector responds to any compound carrying the relevant functional group, including compounds it has not been specifically calibrated for.
  

• What is the difference between the TEA and the ATNA system?

  The 800 Series TEA is the detector. The ATNA is a complete automated system built around it. The TEA can be used as a standalone detector or coupled with a gas chromatograph for compound-level analysis. The ATNA integrates the TEA with automated sample handling and the ATNC chemistry, designed specifically for total nitrosamine screening. Laboratories that need high-throughput screening with minimal operator input typically use the ATNA. Those running targeted compound analysis use the TEA coupled with a GC.

• Does the TEA require a gas chromatograph?

  The TEA operates as a standalone detector when total nitrogen detection is sufficient. For compound-level analysis, it is coupled with an Ellutia gas chromatograph, which separates individual compounds before they reach the detector. Standalone operation suits applications such as ATNC screening, where a single total value is the required output. GC coupling is used when individual nitrosamines or other specific compounds need to be identified and quantified separately.

• What is the difference between nitrogen mode and nitroso / nitro mode?

  Nitrogen mode responds to all nitrogen-containing compounds, excluding molecular nitrogen. The response is independent of compound structure, making it suitable when total nitrogen content is the analytical goal. Nitroso and nitro mode focuses specifically on compounds containing nitroso or nitro functional groups. This is the mode used for nitrosamine analysis and explosive residue detection, where those functional groups define the compounds of interest.
  

• Can the TEA identify individual nitrosamines?

  On its own, the TEA does not separate or identify individual compounds. It responds to nitrogen and nitrogen–oxide groups across all nitrosamines present in the sample. When coupled with an Ellutia gas chromatograph, compounds are separated before they reach the detector. Each nitrosamine produces a distinct peak, allowing individual compounds such as NDMA, NDEA, and NDELA to be identified and quantified.

• Is the TEA suitable for total nitrosamine screening?

  For total nitrosamine screening, the TEA operates as part of Ellutia's ATNA system, which automates the ATNC (Apparent Total Nitrosamine Content) method. ATNC is the recognised approach for demonstrating compliance with limits such as the 50 μg/kg threshold under EU Cosmetics Regulation EC 1223/2009. The ATNA handles sample processing, chemical cleavage, and detection in a single automated run, including overnight batches.

• How does the TEA compare to other nitrosamine detection methods?

  GC-MS is widely used for nitrosamine analysis and provides compound identification through mass spectral matching. The TEA takes a different approach. It responds to the nitrogen–oxide bond present in every nitrosamine, meaning it detects compounds it has not been calibrated for. In complex matrices, the TEA's selectivity produces cleaner chromatograms with less background interference than broad-spectrum detectors. For laboratories running high sample volumes, the TEA is also faster to operate and simpler to maintain than GC-MS systems.

• How sensitive is the TEA?

  The 800 Series TEA achieves a sensitivity of less than 2 pg N/sec at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1. Selectivity is greater than 10⁷ gN/gC, meaning the detector response to nitrogen compounds is ten million times greater than its response to carbon-containing compounds. This level of selectivity is what allows the TEA to produce clean results in complex matrices without interference from the surrounding sample.

   

• What sample preparation is required?

  Sample preparation for TEA analysis depends on the matrix. For many applications, existing laboratory equipment is sufficient — no specialist preparation hardware is required beyond what most analytical laboratories already have. Liquid samples typically require extraction and concentration steps before analysis. Solid matrices such as rubber or pharmaceutical tablets require dissolution or solvent extraction. Ellutia can advise on preparation approaches for specific matrices as part of a pre-sales discussion.