Evaluation of an EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) High-Volume Air Sampler for Polychlorinated Dibenzo-P-Dioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans

摘要

A High-Volume air sampler was evaluated for collection of poly-chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF). The sampler consists of a filter, polyurethane foam adsorbent cartridge, air pump, and environmental housing. The use of an alternative adsorbent, silica gel, was also studied. The study was carried out using 1,2,3,4-tetra-chlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, 1,2,4,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran, 1,2,3,4,7,8-hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin 1,2,3,6,7,8-hexachlorodibenzofuran, octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, and octachlorodibenzofuran. The overall average retention efficiency for all of the isomers at two concentration levels was 99 percent for both the PUF and the silica gel adsorbents. The desorption efficiency of the PCDD/PCDF isomers from spiked filters was evaluated to assess the extent of migration of these compounds from the filter to the adsorbent. Migration was dependent upon the isomers' chlorination level with the less chlorinated, more volatile isomers generally desorbing more efficiently.