Evaluation of polyurethane foam cartridges for measurement of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in air. Final report, 1 August-31 December 1984

Technical Report · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:6185818

Chuang, C C; Bresler, W E; Hannan, S W

The objective of this project was to evaluate polyurethane foam (PUF) cartridges as collection media for quantification of vapor-phase polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in air. Two cleanup methods for PUF cartridges--compression rinsing and combined compression rinsing and Soxhlet extraction--were evaluated. Both methods successfully remove interfering material and background PAHs from the PUF. The compression rinsing method is recommended because it is easier, faster, and cheaper. Two procedures for extraction of PAHs from the PUF matrix, Soxhlet extraction and compression rinsing, were compared. These sample extracts were analyzed by on-column injection, electron impact gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (EI GC/MS) to determine PAHs. The results showed that compression rinsing is comparable to conventional Soxhlet extraction, and that both methods successfully remove PAHs from the PUF cartridges. The compression rinsing method was then used in the stability study. The stability study was carried out to determine the stability of PAHs adsorbed on PUF cartridges as a function of storage time between collection and extraction. The results indicated that the levels of the spiked perdeuterated benzo(a)pyrene decreased significantly during storage. The rate of decrease was much faster when the PUF cartridges were stored in light. Other PAH levels were not adversely influenced by the storage time.

• Research Organization: Battelle Columbus Labs., OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6185818
• Report Number(s): PB-85-245645/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ADSORPTION
AIR POLLUTION
AROMATICS
BIOASSAY
CHROMATOGRAPHY
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
EQUIPMENT
EXTRACTION
FOAMS
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
HYDROCARBONS
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
POLLUTION
POLYAMIDES
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
POLYMERS
POLYURETHANES
PUBLIC HEALTH
SAMPLERS
SAMPLING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
SORPTION
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
SPECTROSCOPY
STORAGE
SURFACE PROPERTIES
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS