A two-column method for long-term monitoring of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) and oxygenated volatile organic compounds (o-VOCs).
A method has been developed for concurrent analysis of C2-C7 hydrocarbons and C2-C5 oxygenated volatile organic compounds (o-VOCs) including alcohols, aldehydes, ketones and ethers. A multi-bed, Peltier-cooled adsorbent trap, consisting of Carboxen 1000 and Carbopack B, was used to acquire one sample per hour. Upon injection the sample was split in an approximately 50:50 ratio between a 50 m aluminium oxide (Al2O3) porous layer open tubular (PLOT) column and a 10 m LOWOX column. Eluents from each column were then analysed using flame ionisation detection (FID). Regular calibration of the system was performed using a standard cylinder mixture at the parts per billion by volume (ppbV) level for non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) and a permeation tube method for the oxygenated species. The system is fully automated with NMHC detection limits between 1 and 10 parts per trillion by volume (pptV) and o-VOC detection limits between 10 and 40 pptV.
Hopkins
James R
JR
School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK LS2 9JT.
Lewis
Alastair C
AC
Read
Katie A
KA
D000042:Absorption; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000438:Alcohols / Q000032:analysis*; D000447:Aldehydes / Q000032:analysis*; D002138:Calibration; D002623:Chemistry Techniques, Analytical / Q000379:methods; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004987:Ethers / Q000032:analysis*; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D007659:Ketones / Q000032:analysis*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D014835:Volatilization
D000393:Air Pollutants; D000438:Alcohols; D000447:Aldehydes; D004987:Ethers; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D007659:Ketones; D010100:Oxygen