Influence of volatility on the collection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon vapors with polyurethane foam

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00123a008· OSTI ID:6750824

You, F; Bidleman, T F

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) vapor penetration through thin sections of polyurethane foam (PUF) was studied to determine the relationships between sample breakthrough, PAH vapor pressure, and total air volume. Frontal chromatographic movement of fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, and pyrene vapors through a PUF bed at high volume airflow was examined. From these fronts, the thickness of foam corresponding to 50% breakthrough was obtained for each compound. This breakthrough point was related to total air volume, and breakthrough point was related to total air volume, and breakthrough volumes (V/sub B/) were determined for a 7.5-cm PUF thickness (equivalent to a single field sampling plug). A log-log plot of V/sub B/ vs. PAH solid phase vapor pressure showed only a rough relationship between the two parameters, but the correlation was much improved when the subcooled liquid vapor pressure was used. From the frontal chromatograms the number of theoretical plates (N) in the absorbent bed was determined. When V/sub B/ and N were known, the maximum safe sampling volume at a required collection efficiency was calculated. 25 references.

• Research Organization: Shanxi Medical College, Taiyuan
• OSTI ID: 6750824
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 18:5; ISSN ESTHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400301 -- Organic Chemistry-- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties-- (-1987)
500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ADSORPTION
ANTHRACENE
AROMATICS
COLLOIDS
CONDENSED AROMATICS
DISPERSIONS
FLUORENE
FOAMS
HYDROCARBONS
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PHENANTHRENE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLASTICS
POLYAMIDES
POLYMERS
POLYURETHANES
PYRENE
SAMPLING
SORPTION
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
VAPOR PRESSURE
VOLATILITY