Laboratory methods for volatile organic compounds evolved in mineralization studies

Journal Article · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620141103· OSTI ID:136740

Hickey, W J; Arnold, S M; Moran, B N ^[1]

---

1. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)

A system to study mineralization of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was developed using commercially available solid-phase VOC traps and impingers to collect CO{sub 2} as well as VOCs breaking out from the solid-phase trap. The efficiencies of VOC traps containing activated charcoal (AC) or graphitized carbon black (GCB) for absorbing [{sup 14}C]trichloroethylene ([{sup 14}C]TCE) and {sup 14}CO{sub 2} were evaluated, and approaches for minimizing VOC losses from reaction vessels were established. Mass balances showed AC and GCB absorbed similar amounts of [{sup 14}C]TCE. However, GCB had no detectable {sup 14}CO{sub 2} retention, whereas AC absorbed about 7% of the {sup 14}CO{sub 2}. Because {sup 14}CO{sub 2} absorption could influence the interpretation of mineralization experiments, GCB was concluded to be the better VOC-trapping matrix.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 136740
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 14; ISSN ETOCDK; ISSN 0730-7268
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ABSORPTION
ACTIVATED CARBON
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
BIODEGRADATION
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CARBON BLACK
CARBON DIOXIDE
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
MINERALIZATION
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
TRACER TECHNIQUES