Uncertainty analysis of a dynamic vapor sorption-fast gas chromatography-flame ionization detection method for the rapid analysis of volatile release from glassy matrices

Uncertainty analysis was conducted with a dynamic vapor sorption - fast gas chromatography - flame ionization detection (DVS-fast GC-FID) method, developed to rapidly analyze the extent of volatile release that occurs from carbohydrate glasses due to humidification and temperature increases. Triplicate samples progressed through a two-step special automatic operation method in the DVS. Samples were exposed to relative humidities ranging from 40 to 90% (in 10% increments) at 15, 25, and 35 °C. Uncertainty analysis shows that the DVS-fast GC-FID method uncertainty is smaller than the natural sample uncertainty, indicating that the variability in a sample's physical properties has a dominant impact on the overall uncertainty of the volatile retention results obtained using the DVS-fast GC-FID method. Uncertainty analysis also indicates that the variance associated with the mass of benzaldehyde measured by the DVS-fast GC-FID is the largest contributor to the overall benzaldehyde retention variance when the cumulative mass of benzaldehyde measured is small.