Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, has developed a hand-held chemical analysis system designed to be used by first responders for the detection of toxic agents. Sandia engineers worked with ESI to simulate fluid flow and chemical reactions through the preconcentrator with CFD-ACE+.

The simulation results showed that in the initial concept design flow rushes along the sides of the preconcentrator with poor wetting of the adsorbent pillars resulting in inefficient adsorption of analyte. Sandia modified the design by rearranging the pillars to improve wetting and optimize the adsorption and desorption phases.