Patent ID: 7201874

Claim:
A system for automatically extracting and analysing the content of residual solvents in solid material samples, comprising: means for heating a sample in order to desorb or extract a solvent and comprising a desorption cell adapted to receive a vial having an opening at both ends and containing said sample; an analysis chamber with a separation column to separate components to be analysed; a plurality of valves for moving fluids inside said system; a detection system to identify the solvents; a control unit for controlling said plurality of valves and processing data; a casing kept at a predetermined temperature housing a part of said components; wherein said system further comprises a washing fluid source using a determined fluid for washing said cell and said open vial, and being connected to a washing valve; a pressure fluid source using said determined fluid for maintaining said cell and said open vial at a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure, and being connected to a pressure valve; a vacuum source for maintaining said cell and said open vial at a pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure, and being connected to a vacuum valve; a pressure control device connected to said washing fluid source, to said pressure fluid source and to said vacuum source through the respective valves and configured for measuring, monitoring, and controlling the pressure inside said cell and said open vial; said pressure control device being arranged for measuring, monitoring, and controlling inside said cell at least three pressure levels: a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure to wash said cell and said vial, and prevent the admission into said cell and said open vial of solvents from the surrounding environment; a pressure substantially equal to the atmospheric pressure to introduce the sample in the open vial and in the cell; a pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure to desorb said solid material samples; said control unit being arranged for controlling opening and closing of said respective washing valve, pressure valve and vacuum valve.