Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Using Tedlar Bag/Solid-phase Microextraction/Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (SPME/GC/MS) in Ambient and Workplace Air

Abstract

SPME techniques have proven to be very useful tools in the analysis of wide VOCs in the air. In this study, we estimated VOCs in ambient and workplace air using a Tedlar ba /SPME/GC/MS system. The calibration curve was set to be linear over the range of 1-30 ppbv. The detection limits ranged from 10 pptv to 0.93 ppbv for all VOCs. Reproducibility of TO-14 target gas mixtures by SPME/GC/MS averaged at 8.8 R.S.D (%). Air toxic VOCs (hazardous air pollutants, HAPs) containing a total of forty halohydrocarbons, aromatics, and haloaro-matic carbons could be analyzed with significant accuracy, detection limit and linearity at low ppbv level. Only reactive VOCs with low molecular weight, such as chloromethane, vinylchloride, ethylchloride and 1,2-dichloroethane, yielded relatively poor results using this technique. In ambient air samples, ten VOCs were identified and quantified after external calibration. VOC concentration in ambient and workplace air ranged from 0.04 to 1.85 ppbv. The overall process was successfully applied to identify and quantify VOCs in ambient/workplace air.

Perylene Imide-Based Optical Chemosensors for Vapor Detection

“…As depicted in Figure 12, Fang Yu and his co-workers reported on an interesting supramolecular ensemble combining one PDI molecule, PDI-11 (modified with ammonia salt at the two imide positions), and two molecules of cholesterol-functionalized calix [4]pyrrole (CCP) [76]. Reversible assembly and disassembly between the two compounds would be easily achieved by deprotonation or protonation of the carboxylic acid moiety.…”

“…This study shows the possibility of an alternative way to design chemosensors based on composite structure incorporating multiple functional molecules, which may help improve the sensor performance regarding both sensitivity and selectivity. [4]pyrrole with PDI-11, and its interaction with TNT and phenol in two different modes leading to turn-on of PDI aggregate fluorescence and quenching of fluorescence of PDI molecules. Note: the former is irreversible, but the latter could be recovered by purging of N2 or air [76].…”

“…Developing chemosensor techniques for trace-level detection of vapor analytes, especially volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and nitro explosives, which are of various health and security concern, has drawn increasing research interest and efforts in the past decades [1][2][3]. As we know, conventional analytical instrumentations such as gas chromatography (GC), mass spectrometry (MS), infrared spectroscopy (IR), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) [4][5][6][7][8], as well as some sensor methods such as surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors [9], quartz crystal microbalances [10] and electrochemical resistors [11] are normally managed in lab detection by professional and technical staff due to their expensive cost, bulk size or complicated and time-consuming operation. In contrast, chemosensors such as electrochemical sensors, field-effect transistor sensors, chemiresistive sensors, fluorometric and colorimetric sensors exhibit superiority regarding system simplicity for facile operation, and non-destructive detection with high sensitivity and selectivity [12][13][14].…”

Analysis of Benzene Exposure Levels on Commuters Traveling within the Metropolitan Area of Costa Rica

“…The efficiency of organic compounds extraction by SPME is mainly controlled by the fiber properties and the experimental conditions [14]. Some authors have reported the use of PDMS fibers with the addition of a carbon sorbent (CAR/PDMS), which led to more effective trapping of volatile compounds [12] [15]. Therefore, benzene was extracted using SPME Carboxen-PDMS (CAR/PDMS), 75 µm film thickness, fibers (Supelco, PA, USA), in order to achieve a higher efficiency in the concentration step.…”

“…Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) techniques have proven to be very useful tools in the analysis of wide VOCs in the air. SPME has been applied to the analysis of benzene and other VOCs in workplace and ambient air, and also to the analysis of the highly reactive sesquiterpene and oxygenated terpene compounds emitted by live vegetation [12] [13].…”