Samplers for VOCs in air based on cyclodextrin-silica hybrid microporous solid phases

Samplers for VOCs in air based on cyclodextrin-silica hybrid microporous solid phases are proposed. The solid phase preparation is very easy and inexpensive. Proposed samplers compared with other solid phases present the advantages of a wider range of operative conditions for VOCs desorption. Samplers are tested based on results for the determination of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and o-xylene, m-xylene and p-xylene (BTEX) in air. Operational parameters are optimized and quantitative recovery is obtained using a solid phase from 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and acetonitrile as the extraction solvent. The recoveries obtained are 89 ± 4%, 90 ± 6%, 91 ± 2%, 87.0 ± 0.9%, 88 ± 4%, and 88 ± 4% for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, m-xylene and p-xylene, respectively. Moreover results indicate a good reproducibility with a coefficient of variation below 6% and no significant difference between the reproducibility intra-synthesis and inter-synthesis. The proposed procedure has been applied to the determination of BTEX in several contaminated air samples and compared with results provided by a reference method.     

Novel cationic surfactant ion pair based solid phase microextraction fiber for nano-level analysis of BTEX

Ion pair of cationic surfactant (cetytrimethylammonium bromide) and tungestosilicic acid incorporated in PVC matrix, was used for coating a piece of copper wire as a new high sensitive SPME fiber in extraction and determination of BTEX compounds from the headspace of water samples prior to GC/FID analysis. Under optimum extraction conditions, limits of detection for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, p-xylene, m-xylene and o-xylene were found to be 1.18, 5.61, 0.87, 0.29, 0.22 and 0.33 ng L(-1) respectively. Low detection limits, wide linear dynamic ranges, good reproducibility (RSD% 1.48-4.27), high fiber capacity and high mechanical durability are some of the most important advantages of the new fiber.     

A new approach to determine method detection limits for compound-specific isotope analysis of volatile organic compounds

Compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) has been established as a useful tool in the field of environmental science, in particular in the assessment of contaminated sites. What limits the use of gas chromatography/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/IRMS) is the low sensitivity of the method compared with GC/MS analysis; however, the development of suitable extraction and enrichment techniques for important groundwater contaminants will extend the fields of application for GC/IRMS. So far, purge and trap (P&T) is the most effective, known preconcentration technique for on-line CSIA with the lowest reported method detection limits (MDLs in the low microg/L range). With the goal of improving the sensitivity of a fully automated GC/IRMS analysis method, a commercially available P&T system was modified. The method was evaluated for ten monoaromatic compounds (benzene, toluene, para-xylene, ethylbenzene, propylbenzene, isopropylbenzene, 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, fluorobenzene) and ten halogenated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (dichloromethane, cis-1,2-dichloroethene, trans-1,2-dichloroethene, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane, trichloroethene, tetrachlorethene, 1,2-dibromoethane, bromoform). The influence of method parameters, including purge gas flow rates and purge times, on delta13C values of target compounds was evaluated. The P&T method showed good reproducibility, high linearity and small isotopic fractionation. MDLs were determined by consecutive calculation of the delta13C mean values. The last concentration for which the delta13C value was within this iterative interval and for which the standard deviation was lower than +/-0.5 per thousand for triplicate measurements was defined as the MDL. MDLs for monoaromatic compounds between 0.07 and 0.35 microg/L are the lowest values reported so far for continuous-flow isotope ratio measurements using an automated system. MDLs for halogenated hydrocarbons were between 0.76 and 27 microg/L. The environmental applicability of the P&T-GC/IRMS method in the low-microg/L range was demonstrated in a case study on groundwater samples from a former military air field contaminated with VOCs.     

静态顶空/气相色谱-质谱法同时测定化妆品中22种有毒挥发性有机溶剂残留

以2015版《化妆品安全技术规范》中规定的常见禁用及限用有毒挥发性有机溶剂为研究对象,建立了静态顶空/气相色谱-质谱法(SHS/GC-MS)同时测定化妆品中22种有毒挥发性有机溶剂(VOC)(二氯甲烷、顺式-1,2-二氯乙烯、反式-1,2-二氯乙烯、2-氯-1,3-丁二烯、三氯甲烷、1,2-二氯乙烷、苯、四氯化碳、三氯乙烯、甲苯、四氯乙烯、氯苯、乙苯、三溴甲烷、间二甲苯、对二甲苯、苯乙烯、邻二甲苯、异丙苯、1,4-二氯苯、1,2-二氯苯、六氯丁二烯)残留的检测方法。试样在80℃下30 min静态顶空,经DB-1柱分离后,采用选择离子监测模式(SIM)进行定性定量分析。优化了顶空、色谱和质谱参数,结果表明:22种VOC在0.5~50 ng/m L浓度范围内均呈良好的线性关系,相关系数均大于0.99,在1.0,2.0,5.0 ng/m L 3个浓度加标水平下的平均回收率为80.3%~102.7%,相对标准偏差(RSD,n=6)为6.4%~9.9%,检出限为0.2~5.0 ng/g。结果表明,该方法简便、灵敏、准确,具有良好的重现性和稳定性,适合于化妆品中22种VOC残留的筛查和确证检测。     

The use of passive sampling to monitor spatial trends of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at an industrial city of Turkey

Ambient concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured using passive sampling technique at 49 sampling points in Kocaeli, an important industrial city in Turkey. Air samples were analyzed using thermal desorption (TD) and gas chromatography/flame ionization detectors (FID). Concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m/p-xylenes, and o-xylene (BTEX), 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, n-propylbenzene, 3-ethyltoluene, and 4-ethyltoluene were investigated to determine their spatial distribution and source apportionment. Concentrations of ΣBTEX ranged from 3.7 to 335.5 μg/m³. Among all the VOC species, m/p-xylene and toluene have the highest concentration. The spatial distributions for BTEX concentrations showed characteristic patterns: high concentrations were typically found along major roads, city centres, and near industrial plants. Pollution sources potentially affecting concentrations were identified using statistical analyses. The results of factor analysis indicated that vehicle exhaust and industrial activity were the predominant emission sources of the VOCs.     

顶空-气相色谱法同时测定饮用水中八种挥发性苯系物

利用顶空-毛细管柱气相色谱技术对饮用水中的苯、甲苯、乙苯、邻二甲笨、对二甲笨、间二甲笨、异丙苯、苯乙烯的测定方法进行了研究,并对平衡时间、气／液体积比、水中含盐量等影响测定因素进行了探讨,对色谱条件和顶空进样条件进行了优化。该方法选用HP-INNOWAX色谱柱,使一直较难分离的间、对二甲苯得到了很好的分离。对八种苯系物进行了最低检出限、线性、回收率、精密度试验,其平均回收率为97．4％～1063％（n=7）,相对标准偏差为2．55％～3．83％（n=7）,最低检出限为0．06～0．10μg／L。测定结果表明,该法操作简单,重现性好,灵敏度高,完全可以满足饮用水中挥发性苯系物的测定。     

生活饮用水中苯系物的顶空气相色谱测定法

建立顶空气相色谱法测定生活饮用水中微量苯系物的方法,各组分的分离度较好.苯、甲苯、乙苯、对二甲苯、间二甲苯、邻二甲苯、异丙苯的检出限分别为0.002、0.004、0.005、0.007、0.007、0.008、0.005 mg/L,样品的平均加标回收率为97.0%～100.8%,测量结果的相对标准偏差不大于5.1%(n=5),该方法可满足水中苯系物的检测要求.     

Gas chromatography-optical fiber detector for the speciation of aromatic hydrocarbons in confined areas

An analytical method, based on separation with gas chromatography (GC) and detection with optical fiber (OF), was used for the separation, detection and quantification of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, p-xylene, m-xylene and o-xylene. The use of OF as a detector is based on the variations of the reflected optical power detected when the aromatic compounds eluted from the GC column are sorbed in a thin polymeric film on a single-mode OF. General figures of merit, such as the analytical time, analytical error and analytical performance of GC-OF were similar to those of the classical analytical methods, such as a gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID). However, the developed GC-OF method constitutes a much less expensive alternative for the speciation of aromatic hydrocarbons compounds, with high accuracy, and being most suitable for actual monitoring work on confined environments.     

The graphene oxide/magnesium–aluminium bimetallic hydroxides composite used as solid-phase extractant for determination of monoaromatic hydrocarbons in wastewater

The graphene oxide (GO) and the magnesium–aluminium bimetallic hydroxides composite (GO/Mg-Al-LDH) was used as a solid-phase extractant for determination of toluene, ethylbenzene, p-xylene, m-xylene, o-xylene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene in wastewater by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analytical method. When the amount of solid-phase extractant was 1.5 g, the extraction time was 6 min, and the elution with 2 mL of chloroform for 3 min, seven monoaromatic hydrocarbons (MAHCs) in 500 mL of water sample can be well extracted and separated. Under the optimised experimental conditions, the mass concentration of each component in the range of 0.01–5 ng/mL has a good linear relationship with the peak area, the coefficients of determination are all greater than 0.995. The relative standard deviation (n = 5) and the method detection limit range are 2.9–7.1% and 0.0005–0.005 ng/mL, respectively. The seven of MAHCs in Dongfengqu River and laboratory wastewater of Chengdu University of Technology can be effectively detected, the recovery rate and the relative standard deviation (n = 5) are 83.0–110.0% and 3.7–9.4%, respectively. For the first time, the GO/Mg-Al-LDH composite was used as a solid-phase extraction material, and seven MAHCs in water were successfully determined by GC-MS. The detection method is established with low detection limit and high reproducibility which can meet the measurement requirements of trace MAHCs in wastewater.     

Silylium-arene adducts: an experimental and theoretical study

The solvent-coordinated [Me(3)Si·arene][B(C(6)F(5))(4)] salts (arene = benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, n-propylbenzene, isopropylbenzene, o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene, 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene) are prepared and fully characterized. As an interesting decomposition product the formation of bissilylated fluoronium ion [Me(3)Si-F-SiMe(3)](+) was observed and even cocrystallized with [Me(3)Si·arene][B(C(6)F(5))(4)] (arene = benzene and toluene). Investigation of the degradation of [Me(3)Si·arene][B(C(6)F(5))(4)] reveals the formation of fluoronium salt [Me(3)Si-F-SiMe(3)][B(C(6)F(5))(4)], B(C(6)F(5))(3), and a reactive "C(6)F(4)" species which could be trapped with CS(2). Upon addition of CS(2), the formation of a formal S-heterocyclic carbene adduct, C(6)F(4)CS(2)-B(C(6)F(5))(3), was observed. The structure and bonding of substituted [Me(3)Si·arene][B(C(6)F(5))(4)] with arene = R(n)C(6)H(6-n) (R = H, Me, Et, Pr, and Bu; n = 0-6) is discussed on the basis of experimental and theoretical data. X-ray data of [Me(3)Si·arene][B(C(6)F(5))(4)] salts reveal nonplanar arene species with significant cation···anion interactions. As shown by different theoretical approaches (charge transfer, partial charges, trimethylsilyl affinity values) stabilizing inductive effects occur; however, the magnitude of such effects differs depending on the degree of substitution and the substitution pattern.     

LED照射光催化剂用于苯、甲苯、乙苯和二甲苯分解(英文)

Studies on the use of gas phase applications of light emitting diodes(LEDs) in photocatalysis are scarce although their photocatalytic decomposition kinetics of environmental pollutants are likely different from those in aqueous solutions.The present study evaluated the use of chips of visible light LEDs to irradiate nitrogen doped titania(N-TiO2) prepared by hydrolysis to decompose gaseous benzene,toluene,ethyl benzene,m-xylene,p-xylene,and o-xylene.Photocatalysts calcined at different temperatures were characterized by various analytical instruments.The degradation efficiency of benzene was close to zero for all conditions.For the other compounds,a conventional 8 W daylight lamp/N-TiO2 unit gave a higher photocatalytic degradation efficiency as compared with that of visible-LED/N-TiO2 units.However,the ratios of degradation efficiency to electric power consumption were higher for the photocatalytic units that used two types of visible-LED lamps(blue and white LEDs).The highest degradation efficiency was observed with the use of a calcination temperature of 350 oC.The average degradation efficiencies for toluene,ethyl benzene,m-xylene,p-xylene,and o-xylene were 35%,68%,94%,and 93%,respectively.The use of blue-and white-LEDs,high light intensity,and low initial concentrations gave high photocatalytic activities for the photocatalytic units using visible-LEDs.The morphological and optical properties of the photocatalysts were correlated to explain the dependence of photocatalytic activity on calcination temperature.The results suggest that visible-LEDs are energy efficient light source for photocatalytic gas phase applications,but the activity depends on the operational conditions.     

Prompt HO2 formation following the reaction of OH with aromatic compounds under atmospheric conditions

The secondary formation of HO(2) radicals following OH + aromatic hydrocarbon reactions in synthetic air under normal pressure and temperature was investigated in the absence of NO after pulsed production of OH radicals. OH and HO(x) (=OH + HO(2)) decay curves were recorded using laser-induced fluorescence after gas-expansion. The prompt HO(2) yields (HO(2) formed without preceding NO reactions) were determined by comparison to results obtained with CO as a reference compound. This approach was recently introduced and applied to the OH + benzene reaction and was extended here for a number of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The measured HO(2) formation yields are as follows: toluene, 0.42 ± 0.11; ethylbenzene, 0.53 ± 0.10; o-xylene, 0.41 ± 0.08; m-xylene, 0.27 ± 0.06; p-xylene, 0.40 ± 0.09; 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene, 0.31 ± 0.06; 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, 0.37 ± 0.09; 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, 0.29 ± 0.08; hexamethylbenzene, 0.32 ± 0.08; phenol, 0.89 ± 0.29; o-cresol, 0.87 ± 0.29; 2,5-dimethylphenol, 0.72 ± 0.12; 2,4,6-trimethylphenol, 0.45 ± 0.13. For the alkylbenzenes HO(2) is the proposed coproduct of phenols, epoxides, and possibly oxepins formed in secondary reactions with O(2). In most product studies the only quantified coproducts were phenols whereas only a few studies reported yields of epoxides. Oxepins have not been observed so far. Together with the yields of phenols from other studies, the HO(2) yields determined in this work set an upper limit to the combined yields of epoxides and oxepins that was found to be significant (≤0.3) for all investigated alkylbenzenes except m-xylene. For the hydroxybenzenes the currently proposed HO(2) coproducts are dihydroxybenzenes. For phenol and o-cresol the determined HO(2) yields are matching the previously reported dihydroxybenzene yields, indicating that these are the only HO(2) forming reaction channels. For 2,5-dimethylphenol and 2,4,6-trimethylphenol no complementary product studies are available.     

Simple analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere using passive samplers.

A simple analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as benzene, toluene, m,p-xylene, and o-xylene, at low levels in the atmosphere was conducted using passive samplers. The methods were applied to analyzing the behavior and origin of VOCs in Kyoto City. The passive samplers were exposed for 7 - 14 days at sampling sites in Kyoto City and for 30 days in the mountains (Mt. Hiei and Mt. Daimonji). Shibata gas-tube samplers packed with activated carbon were used for the determination of VOCs. The absorbed VOCs were extracted into carbon disulfide (CS2) and measured by FID-GC. The determination limits and relative standard deviations for VOCs were 0.3 microg/m3 and 3%, respectively. The samplers were set up at 5 sites in March, 2001 and at 13 stations on Mt. Hiei in November, 2002. The average concentrations of ambient benzene, which were higher than the environmental criterion (3.0 microg/m3), except for those on Mt. Daimonji from March, 2001, to February, 2002, decreased to below 3.0 microg/m3 from March, 2002, to February, 2003. The decrease in ambient benzene may have been due to a decrease in the benzene content in gasoline by the end of 1999, and also by implementation of the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) Act in 2001.     

Study on adsorption kinetic of aromatic hydrocarbons onto activated carbon in gaseous flow method

The adsorption behavior of benzene, toluene, o-xylene, m-xylene, and p-xylene onto activated carbon was investigated using the flow method. The removal efficiency of aromatic hydrocarbons in the gaseous phase was estimated based on the adsorption kinetic constants and the saturated amount of aromatic hydrocarbons adsorbed on the activated carbon. The saturated amount of benzene and toluene adsorbed was greater than that of xylene adsorbed because the molecular sizes of benzene and toluene are smaller than that of xylene. The adsorption kinetic constant increased in the order of xylene, toluene, and benzene. Those of the three xylene isomers were similar. These results indicated that the adsorption rate of benzene by the activated carbon was the fastest and the kinetic constant depended upon the different between the boiling point and the melting point and the molecular size of the aromatic hydrocarbons.     

Evaluation of indoor BTX in an outskirt zone of Rome (Italy)

Correlation between indoor and outdoor levels of BTX (benzene, toluene and the sum of ethyl benzene, o-xylene, m-xylene and p-xylene) has been investigated at thirteen homes, thirteen classrooms and related outdoor atmospheres. Non smoking people and low polluted sites were chosen for this campaign, in order to highlight if commonly used domestic materials could act as internal sources. Data, obtained by employing long-term diffusive samplers over a three-month period, are compared with a parallel experiment showing the day-night indoor/outdoor trend. The obtained results let us conclude that there is evidence of internal sources at homes whilst in the schools depletion phenomena prevail, probably due to the walls adsorption.     

Simultaneous determination of methanol and ethanol in gasoline using NIR spectroscopy: effect of gasoline composition

Near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was employed for simultaneous determination of methanol and ethanol contents in gasoline. Spectra were collected in the range from 714 to 2500 nm and were used to construct quantitative models based on partial least squares (PLS) regression. Samples were prepared in the laboratory and the PLS regression models were developed using the spectral range from 1105 to 1682 nm, showing a root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.28% (v/v) for ethanol for both PLS-1 and PLS-2 models and of 0.31 and 0.32% (v/v) for methanol for the PLS-1 and PLS-2 models, respectively. A RMSEP of 0.83% (v/v) was obtained for commercial samples. The effect of the gasoline composition was investigated, it being verified that some solvents, such as toluene and o-xylene, interfere in ethanol content prediction, while isooctane, o-xylene, m-xylene and p-xylene interfere in the methanol content prediction. Other spectral ranges were investigated and the range 1449-1611 nm showed the best results.     

Excess permittivities,excess refractive indices and NMR spectroscopic studies of solutions of 1,2-dibromoethane in aromatic hydrocarbons

Excess permittivities and excess refractive indices data for solutions of 1,2-dibromoethane (DBE) in benzene, toluene, o-xylene, m-xylene and p-xylene over the whole composition range at 25°C have been obtained. The analysis of excess dielectric properties suggests the existence of weak electron donor-acceptor type interactions between 1,2-dibromoethane (DBE) and aromatic hydrocarbons. The equilibrium constants and the dipole moments of the DBE-aromatic hydrocarbon complexes in solutions have been evaluated. Strneght of interaction increases with electron donating power of aromatic hydrocarbons. NMR spectroscopic studies made on these binary liquid systems also provide evidence for the existence of weak electron donor-acceptor type specific interactions between DBE and aromatic hydrocarbons.     

Importance of Debye and Keesom interactions in separating m-xylene and p-xylene in GC-MS analysis utilizing PEG stationary phase

In electron impact gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry analysis of a complex mixture, such as gasoline, two coeluting solutes can be distinguished if each has a unique major ion. The boiling-point difference between m-xylene and p-xylene, which also has identical major ions (mz-1: 91 and 106 Da), is 0.77 degrees C. These cannot be separated even on a crossed-linked polydimethylsiloxane capillary column, which has a minimum of 5000 plates/m. They are separated on a crossed-linked polar polyethylene glycol (PEG) capillary column. GC separation on a stationary phase depends on the relative strengths of solute-solute, stationary phase-stationary phase, and solute-stationary phase interactions. Although the calculated molar electronic polarization and refractivity factor of Lorenz-Lorentz equation for m-xylene and p-xylene are nearly equal because of its greater dipole moment difference (0.30 and 0.02), the calculated orientation polarization of m-xylene is 80 times greater than p-xylene. This implies the dipole reinforcement through inductive polarization by the hydroxyl of PEG stationary phase molecules is greater on m-xylene than p-xylene. In addition, as the permanent dipole moment of m-xylene is 15 times greater than p-xylene, m-xylene has a stronger Keesom interaction with PEG. In order for m-xylene and p-xylene to solvate in PEG, analytes must overcome the PEG-PEG Keesom/hydrogen bonding interaction forces. Physical and chemical parameters indicate that compared with p-xylene, m-xylene has a greater Debye-Keesom interaction tendency with PEG molecules. This is supported by the 0.12-min. retention-time difference between them.     

液态乳制品包装材料中VOCs迁移安全性研究

利用顶空/气相色谱-质谱(HS/GC-MS)联用法对百利包、利乐包、塑杯3种乳制品包装材料中的挥发性有机物(VOCs)进行迁移安全性研究。结果表明,平衡温度与保温时间对包装中的VOCs有不同程度的影响。百利包中均含有苯,部分含有异丙醇、乙苯、间/对二甲苯、邻二甲苯,包装材料中VOCs含量为85.64~102.10 ng/cm2;利乐包含有苯、间/对二甲苯、邻二甲苯,部分含有异丙醇、乙酸乙酯、乙酸丁酯、乙苯,包装材料中VOCs含量为54.77~75.16 ng/cm2;塑杯均含有苯,部分含有异丙醇、间/对二甲苯、邻二甲苯,包装材料中VOCs含量为82.63~171.25 ng/cm2。利用迁移模型对乳制品进行研究,得出苯迁移最坏情况为0.885×10-3mg/kg;穿过0.015 cm厚度包装材料所需的时间为76 d,大于其保质期45 d。     

Formation of trimer and dimer radical cations of methyl-substituted benzenes in gamma-irradiated low-temperature matrices

Dimer and trimer radical cations of benzene, toluene, and xylenes were produced selectively after gamma-irradiation in low-temperature 2-methylpentane matrices with electron scavengers: oxygen (O(2)) and sec-butyl chloride (sec-BuCl). The charge resonance (CR) band of the trimer radical cation (M(3)(+)) produced via the corresponding dimer radical cation (M(2)(+)) is clearly seen in the solution containing O(2) as the temperature increases over a range from 80 to 90 K. In o-xylene solution, a fairly strong and distinct M(3)(+) CR absorption is observed; this is due to the large M(3)(+)/M(2)(+) relative extinction coefficient. All benzene derivatives show an equilibrium between dimer and trimer radical cations at approximately 90 K; however, the equilibrium constants of toluene and the xylenes are considerably lower than that of benzene. Formation of the trimer radical cation is inhibited in sec-BuCl, which has commonly been used as a low-temperature optical matrix for producing cationic species. An ab initio DFT method is applied to predict the geometry of M(3)(+), giving "slipped sandwich" (for benzene, m-xylene, and p-xylene) and "slipped fan-shaped" (toluene and o-xylene) structures as the most plausible geometries. The experimentally observed spectroscopic parameters reflect well those predicted by TD-DFT calculation based on geometry, suggesting strong dependence of the geometry of M(3)(+) on substitution patterns. This is the first report not only of direct spectroscopic observation of aromatic trimer radical cations in the condensed phase but also on the quantitative analysis of their equilibria.