Sorption of alcohols from air on activated charcoal and determination by gas chromatography of the pentafluorobenzoyl esters. Final report

Technical Report · Fri Oct 21 00:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6078323

Steinberg, S M; Gordon, R J

As an element in the Southern California Air Quality Study of 1987, a method of increased sensitivity was developed to determine air concentrations of methanol and ethanol. The alcohols were adsorbed on charcoal and later desorbed into a reagent to form the pentafluorobenzyl esters, then analyzed by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection. Air was sampled on a 24-hour scheduled divided into five time intervals. Approximately 200 samples were collected at Claremont (over 12 days in summer/fall) and Long Beach (19 days in summer/fall and winter). Results of the study showed that methanol concentrations were very much higher than expected. There was no discernible diurnal pattern to the methanol concentrations and no correlation between the concentrations measured simultaneously at the two sites. It is not certain if the high, variable concentrations of methanol are real, or are the result of analytical problems. It is recommended that the data not be used until additional work is performed.

• Research Organization: Global Geochemistry Corp., Canoga Park, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6078323
• Report Number(s): PB-89-156111/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CALIFORNIA
AIR QUALITY
ETHANOL
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
METHANOL
CHARCOAL
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
PROGRESS REPORT
SORPTION
ADSORBENTS
ALCOHOLS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FEDERAL REGION IX
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
USA
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)