Evaluation of methodology for determination of polyhalogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in ambient air

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5470465

Harless, R L; Lewis, R G; McDaniel, D D; Gibson, J F; Dupuy, A E

General Metals Works PS-1 PUF air samplers and an analytical method based on high resolution gas chromatography - high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC-HRMS) were evaluated for determination of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDDs/PCDFs) and polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDDs/PBDFs) in ambient air. Dilute solutions of these compounds and 13C12-1234-TCDD were used to spike the filters of PS-1 air samplers which were then operated 24 hours to sample 350-400 cu m ambient air. After sampling, each quartz-fiber filter and polyurethane foam (PUF) were spiked with 13C12-labeled PCDD, PCDF, PBDD, and PBDF internal standards before separate Soxhlet extractions with benzene. The extracts were subjected to clean-up procedures using microcolumns of silica gel, alumina and carbon and then analyzed by HRGC-HRMS. Results derived from this study satisfied QA/QC requirements for analytical data and demonstrated that the methodology could accurately determine pg/cu m and sub-pg/cu m levels of these compounds in ambient air. Background levels detected in ambient air are also discussed.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (United States). Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Lab.
• OSTI ID: 5470465
• Report Number(s): PB-91-196063/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION
AIR SAMPLERS
BENZOFURANS
CARBON 13
CARBON ISOTOPES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
CONTROL
DIOXIN
EQUIPMENT
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
EXTRACTION
FURANS
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRY
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
METAL INDUSTRY
NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
QUALITY ASSURANCE
QUALITY CONTROL
SAMPLERS
SAMPLING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
SPECTROSCOPY
STABLE ISOTOPES