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

57334-U

Supelco

SPME fiber assembly Carboxen/Polydimethylsiloxane (CAR/PDMS), d_f 85 μm(CAR/PDMS, needle size 24 ga, for use with manual holder, StableFlex fiber

57318

Supelco

SPME fiber assembly Carboxen/Polydimethylsiloxane (CAR/PDMS), d_f 75 μm(CAR/PDMS, for use with manual holder, needle size 24 ga

57348-U

Supelco

SPME fiber assembly Divinylbenzene/Carboxen/Polydimethylsiloxane (DVB/CAR/PDMS), needle size 24 ga, StableFlex

10437-U

Supelco

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

57344-U

Supelco

SPME fiber assembly Carboxen/Polydimethylsiloxane (CAR/PDMS), d_f 75 μm(CAR/PDMS, needle size 23 ga, for use with manual holder

57329-U

Supelco

SPME fiber assembly Divinylbenzene/Carboxen/Polydimethylsiloxane (DVB/CAR/PDMS), needle size 24 ga, StableFlex, for use with autosampler

57343-U

Supelco

SPME fiber assembly Carboxen/Polydimethylsiloxane (CAR/PDMS), d_f 75 μm(CAR/PDMS, needle size 23 ga, for use with autosampler

10477-U

Supelco

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

28273-U

Supelco

Carbotrap^® 300, stainless steel TD tube, O.D. × I.D. × L 6 mm × 4 mm × 7 in., preconditioned, pkg of 1 ea

57328-U

Supelco

SPME fiber assembly Divinylbenzene/Carboxen/Polydimethylsiloxane (DVB/CAR/PDMS), needle size 24 ga, for use with manual holder

57335-U

Supelco

SPME fiber assembly Carboxen/Polydimethylsiloxane (CAR/PDMS), d_f 85 μm(CAR/PDMS, needle size 24 ga, StableFlex, for use with autosampler

28311-U

Supelco

Carbotrap^® 349, glass TD tube, fritted, O.D. × I.D. × L 6 mm × 4 mm × 7 in., preconditioned, pkg of 1 ea

10269

Supelco

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

20370-U

Supelco

Carbotrap^® 300, stainless steel TD tube, O.D. × I.D. × L 1/4 in. × 5 mm × 7 in., preconditioned, pkg of 1 ea

24246

Supelco

Carboxen^®-1010 PLOT Capillary GC Column, L × I.D. 30 m × 0.32 mm, average thickness 15 μm

24241-U

Supelco

Carboxen^®-1006 PLOT Capillary GC Column, L × I.D. 30 m × 0.32 mm, average thickness 15 μm

10478-U

Supelco

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

10471

Supelco

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

25461

Supelco

Carboxen^®-1006 PLOT Capillary GC Column, L × I.D. 30 m × 0.53 mm, average thickness 30 μm

10435-U

Supelco

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

10257

Supelco

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

10258

Supelco

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

10436

Supelco

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

10439-U

Supelco

Carbopack^™ Adsorbent, matrix Carbopack^™ X, 120-400 mesh, bottle of 50 g

25467

Supelco

Carboxen^®-1010 PLOT Capillary GC Column, L × I.D. 30 m × 0.53 mm, average thickness 30 μm

28283-U

Supelco

Carbotrap^® 300, glass TD tube, fritted, O.D. × I.D. × L 6 mm × 4 mm × 7 in., preconditioned, pkg of 1 ea

57319

Supelco

SPME fiber assembly Carboxen/Polydimethylsiloxane (CAR/PDMS), d_f 75 μm(CAR/PDMS, needle size 24 ga, for use with autosampler

11324-U

Supelco

Carboxen^® Adsorbent, matrix Carboxen^® 564, 20-45 mesh, pack of 144 × 290 mg

20309

Supelco

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

20287

Supelco

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