| Abstract: | A method for the derivatization of volatiles collected using the dynamic solvent effect (DSE) is described. Trimethylsily ethers and esters (using N,O-bis-trimethylsilyltrifluoracetamide) are produced on the porous bed of a DSE concentrator either during or after collection of airborne volatiles. Peak areas obtained in the gas chromatographic analysis of test compounds gave coefficients of variation of less than 10% for amounts considerably less than 100 ng. Little, if any, adsorption or other loss of compounds occurs. The analysis of the volatiles collected from an individual queen of the honeybee, Apis mellifera scutellata, is presented to illustrate the utility of the technique. |
