Rapid Detection of Chemicals Emitted from Museum Display Cases

This application note discusses assessment of volatile organic compounds emitted from the materials used in the manufacture of museum display cases, which can have a detrimental impact upon the condition of the artifacts within them. We describe how sampling devices such as Markes’ Micro-Chamber/Thermal Extractor, used in conjunction with analysis by thermal desorption–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (TD–GC–MS) can allow rapid and convenient sampling of such chemicals from the wide range of construction materials used in these cases, and how new test schemes are being used by industry to certify these materials.