Analytical Methodology for the Identification and Quantification of Vapor Phase Organic Pollutants

摘要

This report describes investigations of a variety of collection, storage, and determination procedures for vapor phase organics in the atmosphere. Results of laboratory and field studies with these experimental sampling systems are presented along with recommendations for field sampling procedures. Sampling with porous polymer absorbents and with stainless steel canisters were found to be complimentary methods with adsorbent techniques being preferred for the determination of specific organic compounds with carbon numbers greater than 8 while canister collection methods are preferred for low molecular weight compounds, or when a variety of unknown atmospheric components need identification. The concept of vapor-phase derivatization upon collection of reactive organics is presented and demonstrated with the silylation of low molecular weight alcohols. Development of a selective GC detector for these derivatives is also described. Preliminary studies on the organic collection and derivatization on inorganic apolar adsorbent material proved promising for the future development of a universal sampling medium for the volatile organic fraction of air.