CTC Analytic's objective is to supply instruments to customers which make the operation of sample processing simple and transparent. In-line with today’s lab requirements for productivity, CTC expanded the application range of its GC injector system PAL COMBI-xt introducing the ITEX-2 Option. The ITEX-2 Option consists of an add-on module which can be used with any existing or new PAL COMBI-xt Systems. It performs enrichment of volatile or semi-volatile compounds during headspace analysis. A microtrap filled with adsorbent material, such as Tenax or activated charcoal is placed between the heated PAL COMBI-xt Headspace syringe and the syringe needle. Using the HS syringe as a pump, a part of the gaseous phase of the pre-conditioned sample vial is pumped repeatedly through the microtrap. This system setup allows rapid, simple and efficient extraction of volatile and semi-volatile sample compounds. To gain sensitivity simply the number of pumping strokes can be increased or several different vials containing the same sample can be extracted. During thermal desorption into the GC injector the microtrap is rapidly flash heated and the analytes reach the GC column as a narrow band. No cryofocussing is needed to obtain sharp peaks. To prepare the next extraction, the hot trap is re-conditioned outside the injector with clean purge gas.