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Modifying gas chromatography systems with cryogenic technologies Subscribe for newsletter updates Researchers at Monash University in Clayton, Australia, have developed a new 3D-printed device for gas chromatography (GC), demonstrating its effectiveness in carrying out multidimensional and enantioselective separations. GC has long been central to chemical analysis, particularly for mixtures of volatile compounds. However, its resolution can be insufficient for separating complex mixtures. Scientists have addressed this limitation with techniques such as multidimensional gas chromatography (MDGC) and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC), which both require modulation devices. Thermal modulators, among the earliest developed, remain widely used. In this study, the researchers designed a stainless steel 3D-printed device to function as a cold trapping assembly when cooled with liquid CO₂. Its operational principle mirrors that of a longitudinally modulated cryogenic system (LMCS). Cryogenic technologies have precedent in chromatography, offering the capacity to remobilise trapped components, thereby enabling new analytical approaches. When integrated with GC, such devices allow analysts to apply advanced separation techniques. The team detailed the enclosure design and assessed its performance for collecting and rapidly remobilising volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Modulation period precision was evaluated, yielding a maximum error of 8 microseconds and an average variation of less than 1 nanosecond across 10,000 successive modulations. Using a C5–C9 alkane series, the system was shown to effectively trap analytes, with peaks achieving a full width at half height (FWHH) as low as 65 milliseconds. The maximum trapping time was determined using hexane, with the modulator retaining the compound for up to 9 seconds at 100 °C before breakthroughs occurred. The system was also used to investigate the enantioselective separation of limonene, a compound derived from citrus peel oils. Although only one chiral column was used, different column lengths (ranging from 20 cm to 5.0 m) were drawn through the modulator. These effectively acted as enantioselective second-dimension (2D) columns. Injected (R,S)-limonene enantiomers were collected simultaneously and then rapidly transferred to the 2D column. The 3D-printed modulator successfully trapped hexane, enabling modulation periods of up to 8 seconds. This was achieved at oven temperatures of up to 100 °C. While higher temperatures were not tested, the researchers suggest that hexane modulation beyond this point is likely feasible. Ultimately, the study demonstrated the feasibility of comprehensive two-dimensional GC using 3D-printed modulators with a tea tree oil sample. Although 2D retention times exceeded optimal limits for GC × GC under the conditions tested, the authors propose that further refinement of columns and methods could yield improved separation.
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Modifying Gas Chromatography Systems with Cryogenic Technologies

Clayton Campus, Melbourne, Victoria. Credit: Montash University, Australia Researchers at Monash University in Clayton, Australia, have developed a new 3D-printed device for gas chromatography (GC), demonstrating its effectiveness in carrying out multidimensional and enantioselective separations. GC has long been central to chemical analysis, particularly for mixtures of volatile compounds. However,...
June 24, 2025
ITER conference
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Strong Project Execution and the Latest Big Lift with ITER

Just two months ago, in April, the first of nine vacuum vessel sectors had been lowered into the tokamak assembly pit. A second was inserted this week in a nighttime operation that ended just as the 36th ITER Council was getting started. Delegates were transported on site to witness the accomplishment...
June 24, 2025
AeroDelft First Student Team to Test Liquid Hydrogen Aircraft Propulsion System
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AeroDelft First Student Team to Test Liquid Hydrogen Aircraft Propulsion System

AeroDelft, a fully student-run and student-owned non-profit foundation based in Delft, has become the first student team in the world to design, build, and test an electric aircraft propulsion system (powertrain) using liquid hydrogen as its energy source. The successful test was conducted in collaboration with TNO at their liquid...
June 24, 2025
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Omniseal is Sealing the Future of Space Travel with Cryogenic Innovation

Omniseal® SPRING-ENERGIZED SEALS. Image Credit: Omniseal Solutions In the high-stakes world of space exploration, success can hinge on something as seemingly simple as a seal. Yet in the harsh, unforgiving conditions of space—from cryogenic temperatures to violent mechanical shocks—nothing is simple. That’s where advanced sealing technology, like the cryogenic solutions engineered by...
June 22, 2025
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How AI Is Supporting Operations and Revolutionizing Research at ATLAS

. In the quest to solve fundamental mysteries about the universe, nuclear physics stands at the forefront, probing the very building blocks of matter and the forces that govern their interactions. At the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, a prominent fixture in this exploration is the Argonne Tandem...
June 22, 2025
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Ebara Elliott Energy Begins Construction on New Abu Dhabi Facility

Ebara Elliott Energy (EEE) has started construction on a new, state-of-the-art service center in Abu Dhabi, located in KEZAD with operations to launch in Q3 2026. The facility is a key part of EEE’s strategy to expand its regional presence and deliver faster, more localized support to customers across the Middle East. (Watch video.)...
June 22, 2025

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