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Title: Analysis of organic compounds in water by direct adsorption and thermal desorption. [Dissertation]

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5579361· OSTI ID:5579361

An instrument was designed and constructed that makes it possible to thermally desorb organic compounds from wet adsorption traps to a gas chromatograph in an efficient and reproducible manner. Based on this device, a method of analyzing organics in water was developed that is rapid, sensitive, and of broader scope than previously published methods. The system was applied to the analysis of compounds with a wide range of volatilities. Temperature and flow parameters were investigated and specific procedures for quantitation were established. Real samples, including tap water and well water, were also analyzed with this system. Depending on the analysis requirements, the thermal desorption instrument can be used with either packed column or high resolution open-tubular column gas chromatography. The construction plans of normal and high-resolution systems are presented along with chromatograms and data produced by each. Finally, an improved thermal desorption instrument is described. Modifications to the basic system, including splitless injection onto a capillary column, automation, dual cryogenic trapping, reduction of scale, and effluent splitting to dual detection are discussed at length as they relate to the improved instrument.

Research Organization:
Ames Lab., Ames, IA (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-82
OSTI ID:
5579361
Report Number(s):
IS-T-882
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English