ThermoSorb-N
Reliable airborne nitrosamine sampling. No false positives. No sample loss.
Nitrosamines are potent carcinogens. Standard sampling methods produce unreliable results. The ThermoSorb-N collects airborne nitrosamines accurately — by design.
Results that reflect reality
Other sorbents can generate nitrosamines during collection itself. The ThermoSorb-N prevents that, so your results show what was in the air and not what happened inside the sampler.
No sample loss
Solid sorbent construction and opaque housing prevent UV degradation and desorption over time or temperature.
Ready for the field
Clip attaches to most work clothes. End caps store on the cartridge itself. No hunting around when you need to seal a sample.
The problem with standard airborne nitrosamine sampling
When you use solid sorbents to collect airborne nitrosamines, nitrogen oxides can react with amines in the sampler and generate nitrosamines that weren't there. That's a false positive.
Wet traps have the opposite problem. Nitrosamines desorb over time and degrade with temperature changes. By the time the sample reaches the lab, some of it is gone. That's a false negative.
Either way, the number you get does not reflect what was in the air.
The ThermoSorb-N was designed to solve both problems. An integrated artifact trap combines an amine-trapping agent with a nitrosation inhibitor, blocking in-situ formation before it starts. Opaque plastic housing and solid sorbent materials prevent UV degradation and desorption. The sample you collect is the sample you analyse.
See how it works
This short overview explains what the ThermoSorb-N does, why other methods fall short, and what makes this approach different.
The results speak for themselves.
The ThermoSorb-N was tested against six common sorbents — activated charcoal, activated alumina, Florisil, silica gel, Tenax GC, and wet traps. 100 litres of air containing 1 ppm NO and 1 ppm NO₂ were passed through each, with 50 µg of five amine standards pre-loaded.
Every other sorbent showed measurable nitrosamine formation. The ThermoSorb-N showed none.
| Sorbent | NDMA | NDPA | NPIP | NPYR | NMOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Activated Charcoal
|
5.9
|
1.7
|
5.0
|
1.5
|
7.9
|
|
Activated Alumina
|
1.2
|
0.1
|
0.22
|
0.1
|
8.9
|
|
Florisil
|
0.59
|
ND
|
0.2
|
0.21
|
0.1
|
|
Silica Gel
|
1.9
|
ND
|
0.56
|
0.58
|
9.0
|
|
Tenax GC
|
0.17
|
0.45
|
3.8
|
1.3
|
15.5
|
|
Thermosorb-N |
ND
|
ND
|
ND
|
ND
|
ND
|
|
1N KOH
|
ND
|
ND
|
ND
|
ND
|
ND
|
|
pH 4.5 Ascorbic Acid
|
ND
|
ND
|
ND
|
ND
|
ND
|
*ND = Not Detected. Results from in-situ formation test: 100L air, 1ppm NO + 1ppm NO₂ at 2L/min through sorbents spiked with 50µg each of five amine standards.*
Of the methods that were free from artifact formation, ThermoSorb-N was the only one that also retained all collected nitrosamines quantitatively. Wet traps showed sample loss over both time and temperature. No sample loss was observed with the ThermoSorb-N.
The ThermoSorb-N also shows excellent linearity and precision across a wide concentration range. Recovery values for seven common volatile nitrosamines ranged from 89% to 113% across concentrations from 25 ng to 1000 ng spiked.
How to use
Sampling in the field
This video walks through how to use the ThermoSorb-N in different environments and how to collect a sample correctly — from removing it from the foil pouch to sealing it after the sampling period.
Extracting and analysing your sample
Once sampling is complete, analysis is straightforward. This video covers the solvent back-flushing technique used to elute the sample, and how to run the analysis using a gas chromatograph connected to the Ellutia 800 Series TEA.
Twelve steps from pouch to result.
The ThermoSorb-N is designed to make sampling as straightforward as possible. Here's the full process from start to finish.
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Remove air sampler from the foil pouch.
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Label air sampler with the supplied numbered label.
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Remove the two air sampler sealing caps and store on the posts on the sampler.
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Attach air sampler to the sampling pump.
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Calibrate the pump.
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Record the appropriate data on the data log label.
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Attach the air sampler near the breathing zone.
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After the sampling period, remove the air sampler.
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Replace the two sealing caps.
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Record the appropriate data.
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Place air sampler in the foil pouch and re-seal.
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Place sealed pouch in a mailer and submit for analysis.
Where the ThermoSorb-N is used
Personal monitoring
Workers in environments where nitrosamine exposure is a risk — manufacturing, rubber processing, metalworking — can wear the ThermoSorb-N throughout a shift. The integral clip attaches to a pocket or lapel and stays secure during normal working activity.
Workplace monitoring
Fixed-point monitoring in industrial environments. A second cartridge can be attached "piggyback" style if unusually high concentrations of N-nitroso compounds are suspected.
Vehicle interiors
Airborne nitrosamine levels in enclosed vehicle environments can be measured using the same collection method, with the sampler positioned near the occupant breathing zone.
Complete the workflow with the 800 Series TEA
After eluting the sample with the solvent back-flushing technique, analysis is fast and specific. The Ellutia 800 Series TEA (Thermal Energy Analyser) detects N-nitroso compounds with high selectivity and sensitivity, working in the part-per-billion range — and part-per-trillion with minimal additional effort.
The TEA connects directly to your gas chromatograph where it pyrolyses volatile N-nitroso compounds, releasing nitrosyl radicals. Oxidation produces electronically excited nitrogen dioxide, which emits characteristic radiation. A photomultiplier tube measures the signal, which is proportional to the N-nitroso compound concentration.
For total nitrosamine analysis without individual compound separation, see the Automated Total Nitrosamine Analyser.
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Frequently asked questions
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What makes the ThermoSorb-N different from other sampling methods?
Most air sampling sorbents produce measurable artifact when nitrogen oxides are present. The ThermoSorb-N includes an integrated artifact trap with an amine-trapping agent and a nitrosation inhibitor. In comparative testing, it showed no detectable nitrosamine formation where every other sorbent tested showed measurable artifact.
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Does it prevent UV degradation?
Yes. The sampler is constructed from opaque plastic, so collected nitrosamines are not exposed to UV light during transport or storage.
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Can it be used at unusually high nitrosamine concentrations?
The large diameter of the ThermoSorb-N eliminates the need for a backup section in most applications. Where particularly high concentrations of N-nitroso compounds are suspected, a second cartridge can be attached in "piggyback" configuration.
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How do I analyse the collected sample?
A solvent back-flushing technique is used to elute the sample from the cartridge. The eluate can then be analysed by GC using the Ellutia 800 Series TEA. The process is fast — analysis of volatile N-nitroso compounds at part-per-billion levels takes minutes, compared to several days with conventional methods.
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What is the Data Log?
Every ThermoSorb-N ships with a Data Log that includes coded labels for the sampler, analysis vials, and mailing envelopes. It also provides a form for recording sampling data. The sealable foil pouch gives additional protection during transport.
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Where is the ThermoSorb-N made?
The ThermoSorb-N is designed and manufactured by Ellutia, based in Ely, Cambridgeshire, UK.
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How do I order?
Use the Buy Now button on this page to order directly. For questions before ordering, use the Speak to Our Team link and someone will get back to you.