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U.S. Department of Energy
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An automated GC technique for enhanced detection of organic compounds monitored using passive organic vapor badges

Conference ·
OSTI ID:197453
 [1]
  1. AtmAA, Inc., Calabasas, CA (United States)

The principle use of organic vapor badges is for monitoring of exposure to organic compounds in the workplace, where the concentrations of target species are typically in ppmv to sub-ppmv range. When this passive device is used for monitoring of organic compounds in ambient air, the analytical method used must have good sensitivity and precision to allow the small amount of compounds collected to be measured. A Hewlett Packard 5840A gas chromatograph with an autosampler was configured for two-dimensional gas chromatography with intermediate cryo-trapping to measure species like benzene, toluene, PERC and MEK. The autosampler gave high injection precision. The primary column was used for separating the large solvent peak from target compounds. Heart-cutting and cryo-focusing allowed target species to be analyzed with capillary column with good sensitivity. The technique was used in several monitoring programs and showed very good precision. Findings will be presented and discussed.

OSTI ID:
197453
Report Number(s):
CONF-9405167--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English