New approach to resolve the humidity problem in VOC determination in outdoor air samples using solid adsorbent tubes followed by TD-GC-MS.

New approach to resolve the humidity problem in VOC determination in outdoor air samples using solid adsorbent tubes followed by TD-GC-MS.

The Science of the total environment (2017-05-26)

Alba Maceira, Laura Vallecillos, Francesc Borrull, Rosa Maria Marcé

ABSTRACT

This study describes the humidity effect in the sampling process by adsorbent tubes followed by thermal desorption and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS) for the determination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air samples and evaluates possible solutions to this problem. Two multi-sorbent bed tubes, Tenax TA/Carbograph 1TD and Carbotrap B/Carbopack X/Carboxen 569, were tested in order to evaluate their behaviour in the presence of environmental humidity. Humidity problems were demonstrated with carbon-based tubes, while Tenax-based tubes did not display any influence. Silica gel, a molecular sieve and CaCl

MATERIALS

Product Number

Brand

Product Description

28686-U

Supelco

FLM Carbopack^™ X Deactivated Stainless Steel TD Tube, preconditioned, pkg of 10 tubes, O.D. × L 1/4 in. (6.35 mm) × 3 1/2 in. (89 mm)

10437-U

Supelco

Carbopack^™ Adsorbent, matrix Carbopack^™ X, 60-80 mesh, bottle of 10 g

10478-U

Supelco

Carboxen^® Adsorbent, matrix Carboxen^® 1000, 60-80 mesh, bottle of 10 g

10436

Supelco

Carbopack^™ Adsorbent, matrix Carbopack^™ X, 40-60 mesh, bottle of 10 g

10257

Supelco

Carbopack^™ Adsorbent, matrix Carbopack^™ C, 60-80 mesh, bottle of 10 g

10471

Supelco

Carboxen^® Adsorbent, matrix Carboxen^® 1003, 40-60 mesh, bottle of 10 g

10477-U

Supelco

Carboxen^® Adsorbent, matrix Carboxen^® 1000, 40-60 mesh, bottle of 50 g

11047-U

Supelco

Carbotrap^® Adsorbent, matrix Carbotrap^® C, 20-40 mesh, bottle of 500 g

57328-U

Supelco

SPME Fiber Assembly, 50/30µm DVB/CAR/PDMS, StableFlex (1cm), needle size 24 ga, Manual Holder, pk of 3, plain gray hub

57343-U

Supelco

SPME Fiber Assembly, 75 μm CAR/PDMS, Fused Silica (1 cm), needle size 23 ga, Autosampler, pk of 3, black hub

57329-U

Supelco

SPME Fiber Assembly, 50/30µm DVB/CAR/PDMS, StableFlex (1 cm), needle size 24 ga, Autosampler, pk of 3, plain gray hub

57295-U

Supelco

SPME Fiber Assembly, 85 μm CAR/PDMS, StableFlex (1 cm), needle size 23 ga, Autosampler, pk of 3, light blue hub

57319

Supelco

SPME Fiber Assembly, 75 μm CAR/PDMS, Fused Silica (1 cm), needle size 24 ga, Autosampler, pk of 3, black hub

57344-U

Supelco

SPME Fiber Assembly, 75 μm CAR/PDMS, Fused Silica (1 cm), needle size 23 ga, Manual Holder, pk of 3, black hub

57334-U

Supelco

SPME Fiber Assembly, 85 μm CAR/PDMS, StableFlex (1 cm), needle size 24 ga, Manual Holder, pk of 3, light blue hub

57335-U

Supelco

SPME Fiber Assembly, 85 μm CAR/PDMS, StableFlex (1 cm), needle size 24 ga, Autosampler, pk of 3, light blue hub

11072-U

Supelco

Carboxen^® Adsorbent, matrix Carboxen^® 572, 20-45 mesh, bottle of 10 g

57298-U

Supelco

SPME Fiber Assembly, 50/30µm DVB/CAR/PDMS, StableFlex (1 cm), needle size 23 ga, Autosampler, pk of 3, plain gray hub

11048-U

Supelco

Carboxen^® Adsorbent, matrix Carboxen^® 569, 20-45 mesh, bottle of 500 g

57906-U

Supelco

SPME Fiber Assembly, 85 μm CAR/PDMS, Metal Alloy (1 cm), needle size 23 ga, Autosampler, pk of 1, light blue hub

57299-U

Supelco

SPME Fiber Assembly, 50/30µm DVB/CAR/PDMS, StableFlex (2cm), needle size 23 ga, Autosampler, pk of 3, notched gray hub

29535-U

Supelco

Carbopack^™ B, glass TD tube, fritted, O.D. × L 1/4 in. × 3 1/2 in., preconditioned, pkg of 10 ea

30136-U

Supelco

Carbopack^™ B, glass TD tube, fritted, O.D. × L 1/4 in. × 3 1/2 in., unconditioned, pkg of 10 ea, matrix Carbopack^™

57348-U

Supelco

SPME Fiber Assembly, 50/30µm DVB/CAR/PDMS, StableFlex (2cm), needle size 24 ga, Autosampler, pk of 3, notched gray hub

57318

Supelco

SPME Fiber Assembly, 75 μm CAR/PDMS, Fused Silica (1 cm), needle size 24 ga, Manual Holder, pk of 3, black hub

54041-U

Supelco

Carboxen^® 1000 Reversible SPE Tube, 200 mg/mL, pk 30

10269

Supelco

Carboxen^® Adsorbent, matrix Carboxen^® 569, 20-45 mesh, bottle of 10 g

10435-U

Supelco

Carbotrap^® Adsorbent, matrix Carbotrap^® X, 20-40 mesh, bottle of 10 g

10258

Supelco

Carbopack^™ Adsorbent, matrix Carbopack^™ C, 80-100 mesh, bottle of 10 g

30135-U

Supelco

Carbopack^™ B, stainless steel TD tube, O.D. × L 1/4 × 3 1/2, unconditioned, pkg of 10 ea