GL Sciences CryoFocus

The GL Sciences CryoFocus Cold Trap is a cryogenic trapping device designed to improve chromatographic performance by focusing analytes within a GC column. The system operates by cooling a selected section of the column to sub-ambient temperatures, enabling volatile or weakly retained compounds to be trapped and refocused prior to separation. After trapping, the analytes are rapidly released using a highly controlled, fast heating ramp, allowing them to enter the column as a narrow band. This refocusing process supports sharper peak shapes, improved signal-to-noise ratios and enhanced detection limits. The instrument features a low thermal mass design that enables rapid cooling and heating, with temperature control suitable for use within the operating limits of standard GC capillary columns.

Cooling can be achieved using either liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide, allowing the trap to reach temperatures as low as –150°C depending on configuration. The system incorporates direct heating of the cooling chamber to achieve heating rates of up to 60°C per second, helping to maintain analytical precision and resolution. A newly developed low-noise liquid nitrogen valve improves temperature regulation at low temperatures while reducing acoustic disturbance in the laboratory. The CryoFocus can be operated as a standalone accessory compatible with most GCs or integrated with the OPTIC-4 system, and is supported by dedicated control software for straightforward setup and operation.