Characterization of human expired breath by solid phase microextraction and analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and differential mobility spectrometry
Name
65466497-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
3.99 MB
Format
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Checksum (MD5)
6699d442f63f45e5e60a87d21dc0e808
Author(s)
Merrick, William (William F. W.)
Advisor(s)
Cristina E. Davis and Julie E. Greenberg.
Date Issued
2005
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Breath analysis has potential to become a new medical diagnostic modality. In this thesis, a method for the analysis of human expired breath was developed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. It was subsequently adopted for gas chromatography-differential mobility spectroscopy, a modality not previously applied to this problem. Tedlar bags and solid-phase microextraction were used for breath sampling and concentration prior to analysis. Four fiber coatings were evaluated with respect to selectivity and sensitivity; extraction time, gas chromatography temperature programming, and sample storage stability were explored for optimization. The method entails extraction and preconcentration with a polydimethylsiloxane-divinylbenzene coated fiber for 30 min at 37⁰C, and extraction profiles for several compounds demonstrate competitive adsorption. 120 compounds were identified in breath with response variability between 23 - 117% about mean values. Feasibility of differential mobility spectroscopy for breath analysis was established, and this method will be the basis for future investigations on the diagnostic potential of breath analysis.
Description
Thesis (M. Eng.)--Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, 2005.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-95).
Subjects
Harvard University--MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology.
MIT Department
Harvard University--MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology
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