Development and Validation of an Industrial Hygiene Air Monitoring Method for the Collection and Analysis of Various Hydrocarbons in Air
Air Methods & Monitoring
Oral Presentation
Prepared by J. Mosey1, K. Thaxton2, M. Brzozowski1, D. Rodabaugh1
1 - The Dow Chemical Company, 3700 James Savage Rd, 1602 Building, Midland, MI, 48667, United States
2 - GERSTEL Inc., 701 Digital Drive Suite J, Linthicum, MD, 21090, United States
Contact Information: j.mosey@dow.com; 989-496-5380
ABSTRACT
Occupational exposure limits (OELs) for relevant chemicals, such as benzene, are continually decreasing in various relevant geographies. For example, Germany recently reduced its OEL for benzene from 0.6 ppmv to 0.06 ppmv, and other countries may follow.
A passive industrial hygiene air monitoring method for the collection and analysis of multiple compounds relevant to worker monitoring was developed and validated. Axial sampling stainless steel sorbent tubes containing Graphsphere 2016 (in tubes with the standard 15 mm diffusion path length and also half as much) were exposed using a customized exposure chamber to a variety of concentration, temperature and humidity conditions as specified in various regulatory guidelines and analyzed using thermal desorption-gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (TD-GC-FID). Desorption efficiency and reverse diffusion effects were assessed and reported, as well as improvements in diffusion flow as a function of diffusion path length. Furthermore, storage stability at refrigerated and ambient conditions were also assessed.
Thermal desorption (TD) offers a 1000-fold sensitivity increase over traditional solvent based desorption by passing all the captured analyte onto the column, and simultaneously eliminates the need for highly flammable/toxic desorption solvents. Passive monitoring is a cost effective and 'wearer-friendly' approach to monitoring worker exposure and negates the need for a calibrated pump for sampling. TD methods generally exceed 95% desorption efficiency with high reproducibility. TD methods require very little in the way of sample preparation, do not use any flammable/toxic extraction solvents, and are a highly sensitive method of detection.
Air Methods & Monitoring
Oral Presentation
Prepared by J. Mosey1, K. Thaxton2, M. Brzozowski1, D. Rodabaugh1
1 - The Dow Chemical Company, 3700 James Savage Rd, 1602 Building, Midland, MI, 48667, United States
2 - GERSTEL Inc., 701 Digital Drive Suite J, Linthicum, MD, 21090, United States
Contact Information: j.mosey@dow.com; 989-496-5380
ABSTRACT
Occupational exposure limits (OELs) for relevant chemicals, such as benzene, are continually decreasing in various relevant geographies. For example, Germany recently reduced its OEL for benzene from 0.6 ppmv to 0.06 ppmv, and other countries may follow.
A passive industrial hygiene air monitoring method for the collection and analysis of multiple compounds relevant to worker monitoring was developed and validated. Axial sampling stainless steel sorbent tubes containing Graphsphere 2016 (in tubes with the standard 15 mm diffusion path length and also half as much) were exposed using a customized exposure chamber to a variety of concentration, temperature and humidity conditions as specified in various regulatory guidelines and analyzed using thermal desorption-gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (TD-GC-FID). Desorption efficiency and reverse diffusion effects were assessed and reported, as well as improvements in diffusion flow as a function of diffusion path length. Furthermore, storage stability at refrigerated and ambient conditions were also assessed.
Thermal desorption (TD) offers a 1000-fold sensitivity increase over traditional solvent based desorption by passing all the captured analyte onto the column, and simultaneously eliminates the need for highly flammable/toxic desorption solvents. Passive monitoring is a cost effective and 'wearer-friendly' approach to monitoring worker exposure and negates the need for a calibrated pump for sampling. TD methods generally exceed 95% desorption efficiency with high reproducibility. TD methods require very little in the way of sample preparation, do not use any flammable/toxic extraction solvents, and are a highly sensitive method of detection.
