Coupling needle trap devices with gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry detection as a simple approach for on-site quantitative analysis

• Needle trap (NTD) was coupled with GC–IMS for on-site analysis.
• The NTD-GC–IMS system was evaluated using α-pinene, limonene and acetone.
• Linearity was verified by least-squares regression and analysis of variance.
• Quantitative analysis was accomplished in a short period of time (330 s).
• NTD and SPME coupled with GC–IMS were applied for analysis of biogenic compounds.

This study presents needle trap device (NTD) coupled with a portable gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry detection system (NTD-GC–IMS) as an advantageous, simple, cheap and reliable approach for on-site quantitative analysis. The NTD-GC–IMS system was evaluated using α-pinene, limonene and acetone as analytical models. Results showed satisfactory response stability (intra and inter-day relative standard deviation (RSDs) < 10%), as well as limits of detection (LODs) comparable to those provided by conventional benchtop instruments (LODs < 0.7 ng). Additionally, this methodology, together with solid phase microextraction (SPME-GC–IMS), was successfully used for on-site monitoring of temporal emissions of α-pinene by a pine branch at different times during the same day. Quantitative analysis was satisfactorily accomplished in a significantly short period of time (330 s) owing to the low detection limits that IMS detection provides.