Evaluation of Polyurethane Foam Cartridges for Measurement of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Air

摘要

The objective of this project was to evaluate polyurethane foam (PUF) cartridges as collection media for quantification of vapor phase polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in air. Two cleanup methods for PUF cartridges--compression rinsing and combined compression rinsing and Soxhlet extraction--have been evaluated. Both methods successfully remove interfering material and background PAHs from the PUF. The compression rinsing method is recommended because it is easier, faster, and cheaper. Two procedures for extraction of PAHs from the PUF matrix, Soxhlet extraction and compression rinsing, were compared. These sample extracts were analyzed by on-column injection, electron impact gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (EI GC/MS) to determine PAHs. The results showed that compression rinsing is comparable to conventional Soxhlet extraction, and that both methods successfully remove PAHs from the PUF cartridges. The compression rinsing method was then used in the stability study. The stability study was carried out to determine the stability of PAHs adsorbed on PUF cartridges as a function of storage time between collection and extraction. The results indicated that the levels of the spiked perdeuterated benzo(a)pyrene decreased significantly during storage. The rate of decrease was much faster when the PUF cartridges were stored in light. Other PAH levels were not adversely influenced by the storage time.