Development and laboratory investigation of a denuder sampling system for the determination of carbonyl compounds in stack gas

A method for sampling and detection of low volatile carbonyl concentrations (aldehydes and ketones) in stack gas is proposed. For this purpose, a novel fourfold glass annular-denuder, coated with acidified 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) has been developed for the sampling of carbonyl compounds under high temperature and high humidity emission conditions. After sampling, the hydrazones are eluted with acetonitrile and analyzed using RP-HPLC. They are detected by UV-absorbance, with maximum sensitivity obtained between 350 and 380 nm. The sampling efficiency has been investigated for different flow rates, temperatures and relative humidities. The influence of other trace gases (ozone, nitrogen dioxide) on the sampling system was investigated as well. Received: 25 November 1996 / Revised: 19 February 1997 / Accepted: 22 February 1997     

Laboratory investigation of annular denuders as sampling system for the determination of aliphatic primary and secondary amines in stack gas

A method for the sampling and analysis of aliphatic amines ranging from C₁ to C₅ and some diamines in exhaust gas is described. Two different annular denuder systems coated with phosphoric acid were used for the laboratory investigation of sampling gaseous amines. The denuder sampling systems were tested under different conditions for their readiness to work in stack gas.The reagent 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) was used in pre-column derivatization of the amines investigated. The amino derivatives were separated using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in conjunction with UV-detection. This method has been used for the examination of emissions from a landfill waste disposal and from animal husbandry with respect to traces of aliphatic amine emissions.     

Development of a trace gas stable isotope capture system in a mobile laboratory for temporal and spatial sampling of field and laboratory experiments

We describe the development of a novel mobile field laboratory, purposely designed for the automated capture and subsequent stable isotopic analyses of multiple gas samples. The multiple capture system is integrated into a mobile laboratory that is fully capable of measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide trace gases in a flow-through system connected to a gas chromatograph fitted with both electron capture and flame ionisation detectors. The capture of gases is achieved by routing samples through a series of 135 mL gas flasks that are sealed by micro-solenoid valves triggered by a timing system. Trace gas light stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry can then be carried out on gas samples collected by the system (NERC (15)N Stable Isotope Facility). The excitingly unique potential of the system to the ecological research field is that it will allow the collection of cyclical data for three different trace gases both in real-time and in situ. We present data arising from the validation of this mobile system as well as a preliminary experimental assessment of this technique. This technique was used to measure delta(13)C in CO(2) and CH(4) in soil gases released from waterlogged cores and delta(13)C-CH(4) values were significantly depleted in wet cores compared with dry ones (p < 0.001).     

Comparison of extraction techniques for gas chromatographic determination of volatile carbonyl compounds in alcohols

Two extraction procedures, i.e. conventional liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and liquid solid-phase microextraction (SPME) for extraction of the oximes formed after derivatization of carbonyl compounds with o-(2,3, 4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl) hydroxylamine (PFBHA) in alcoholic solutions have been compared. The limit of detection for LLE followed by GC-ECD determination of C₁–C₆ was in the range of 0.23–3.3 μg/L, whereas for liquid SPME 0.005–0.33 μg/L. Both methods elaborated can be applied to the determination of carbonyl compounds present in spirits and alcoholic beverages. Received: 26 September 2000 / Revised: 14 January 2001 / Accepted: 16 January 2001     

Comparison of extraction techniques for gas chromatographic determination of volatile carbonyl compounds in alcohols

Two extraction procedures, i.e. conventional liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and liquid solid-phase microextraction (SPME) for extraction of the oximes formed after derivatization of carbonyl compounds with o-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl) hydroxylamine (PFBHA) in alcoholic solutions have been compared. The limit of detection for LLE followed by GC-ECD determination of C1-C6 was in the range of 0.23-3.3 microg/L, whereas for liquid SPME 0.005-0.33 microg/L. Both methods elaborated can be applied to the determination of carbonyl compounds present in spirits and alcoholic beverages.     

Development of SPME on-fiber derivatization for the sampling of formaldehyde and other carbonyl compounds in indoor air

Solid-phase microextraction on-fiber derivatization applied to carbonyl compounds is known, but application to indoor air is poorly developed and the methods deserve to be complemented and optimized. In this work, two derivatization reagents, pentafluorophenylhydrazine and o-2,3,4,5,6-(pentaflurobenzyl)hydroxylamine (PFBHA), and three fiber coatings were tested in order to select the best combination. As Carboxen-based coatings were proven to induce the formation of by-products during the thermal desorption step, a polydimethylsiloxane–divinylbenzene fiber in association with PFBHA was finally chosen. The study of the derivatization kinetics showed that the reaction of PFBHA with carbonyl compounds was instantaneous, except for acetone. Analyses were performed by gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detection and mass spectrometry. For 5 min fiber exposure, the limits of detection are below 0.5 μg m^-3 in selected ion monitoring mode, the reproducibility was 15 % on average, and the linearity of the calibration curves was satisfactory. For on-site application, the influence of air humidity and the conditions in which the impregnated fibers were stored were studied. It is possible to store the fibers for 3 days before and for at least 2 days after sampling. The relative humidity of air was shown to have no influence on solid-phase microextraction sampling in the range from 0 to 70 %. For formaldehyde, the method was compared with sampling on 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine cartridges, and the first results showed good agreement. Finally, the method was applied to three different indoor environments to check its feasibility.     

Experimental choices for the determination of carbonyl compounds in air

The analysis of carbonyls in ambient air has received a great deal of scientific attention with the advancement of analytical techniques and increased demand for the build-up of its data base. In this review article, we have attempted to provide some insight into the relative performance of different instrumental approaches available for the analysis of ambient carbonyls with a major emphasis on high performance liquid chromatographic and gas chromatographic methods. Reported in several international standard procedures, derivatization of carbonyls with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (2,4-DNPH) with either an impinger or cartridges is the most commonly used method of HPLC detection. In this respect, a number of alternative hydrazine reagents have also been discussed for use with HPLC. In contrast, GC methods based on the combined application of adsorptive enrichment on solid sorbents and thermal desorption are examined with regard to their suitability for carbonyl analysis in air. Particular emphasis has been directed towards the advantages and drawbacks of these different instrumental techniques for ambient carbonyls. Based on this comparative approach, we discuss the suitability for each method for carbonyl analysis.     

Sampling and determination of gas phase divalent mercury in the air using a KCl coated denuder

KCl coated denuders were employed for the measurement of divalent mercury (Hg²⁺) species in the air. Laboratory tests show that gaseous Hg²⁺ can be collected by the denuder with an average efficiency of 98% and elemental Hg will pass through it freely. Hg²⁺ trapped in the denuder can be quantitatively extracted by 1 mol/L HCl and analyzed by the method of SnCl₂ reduction-CVAFS determination. Hg²⁺ concentrations of 0.04–0.15 ng m^–3 corresponding to about 2–9% of the total gaseous mercury in the ambient air were determined at several sampling locations. Received: 24 September 1996 / Revised: 14 January 1997 / Accepted: 18 January 1997     

Sampling and determination of gas phase divalent mercury in the air using a KCl coated denuder

KCl coated denuders were employed for the measurement of divalent mercury (Hg²⁺) species in the air. Laboratory tests show that gaseous Hg²⁺ can be collected by the denuder with an average efficiency of 98% and elemental Hg will pass through it freely. Hg²⁺ trapped in the denuder can be quantitatively extracted by 1 mol/L HCl and analyzed by the method of SnCl₂ reduction-CVAFS determination. Hg²⁺ concentrations of 0.04–0.15 ng m^–3 corresponding to about 2–9% of the total gaseous mercury in the ambient air were determined at several sampling locations.     

Comparison of denuder and impinger sampling for determination of gaseous toluene diisocyanate (TDI)

An air-sampling method employing denuders coated inside with a chemisorptive stationary phase has been evaluated for analysis of the hazardous gaseous 2,4 and 2,6 isomers of toluene diisocyanate (TDI). The denuder stationary phase consisted of polydimethylsiloxane (SE-30) to which dibutylamine (DBA) was added as a reagent for derivatization of TDI. The accuracy and precision of sampling by means of denuders were shown to differ only slightly from those of the established impinger method. The denuder method was, however, also shown to be suitable for long-term measurements (up to 8 h). The limit of determination (LOD) of the method, including LC-APCI-MS-MS analysis, was found to be 1.9 microg m(-3) and 1.2 microg m(-3) for 2,4- and 2,6-TDI, respectively, for short-term measurements (15 min). Significant lower LOD was obtained for long-term measurements. This is well below the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 8-h TWA (time-weighted average) exposure limit, which is 40 microg m(-3) for the sum of the TDI isomers. The denuder method was also found to be robust and easy to handle. The samplers can be prepared several days before sampling with no loss in performance. The contents of denuders should, on the other hand, be extracted immediately after sampling to prevent degradation of the isocyanate derivatives formed.     

Gas chromatographic approach for the determination of carbonyl compounds in ambient air

In this study, an effort was made to apply gas chromatography (GC) with a flame ionization detector (FID) to the determination of gaseous carbonyls (without derivatization) at sub ppb level. A GC system interfaced with a multi-function thermal desorber system (TD) was hence tested for the collection and analysis of gaseous carbonyls. During this study, the calibration properties of five carbonyl compounds - acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, butyraldehyde, isovaleraldehyde, and valeraldehyde - were evaluated by varying the operation conditions of the TD system (i.e., sample transfer approaches and sorbent types of cold trap). The results were generally discernible between compounds (light and heavy carbonyls) and/or between selected concentration levels. Most interestingly, the GC detection properties of the lighter aldehydes (acetaldehyde and propionaldehyde) varied significantly, as they were sensitively affected by the types of cold trap combination. However, the heavier aldehydes - butyraldehyde, isovaleraldehyde, and valeraldehyde - maintained highly constant trends for GC calibration. According to this study, a GC-based quantification of aldehydes can be completed by an optimized setup of TD system.     

Sample preparation of atmospheric aerosol for the determination of carbonyl compounds

Sample preparation including sonication and solid phase extraction has been developed for the determination of carbonyl compounds in atmospheric aerosol. Aerosol samples were sonicated in acidified acetonitrile containing 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) to form hydrazone derivatives of aldehydes and ketones. Water was added to the extract to increase its polarity. Then the solution was passed through an octadecyl or phenyl solid phase extraction cartridge. The concentrated hydrazone derivatives were eluted with tetrahydrofuran, the eluate was evaporated to dryness then dissolved in acetonitrile/water mixture and finally analysed by RP-HPLC with UV detection at 360 nm. The absolute detection limits of the individual carbonyl compounds range from 0.4 to 5.8 ng.     

A portable automated system for trace gas sampling in the field and stable isotope analysis in the laboratory

A computer-controllable mobile system is presented which enables the automatic collection of 33 air samples in the field and the subsequent analysis for delta13C and delta18O stable isotope ratios of a carbon-containing trace gas in the laboratory, e.g. CO2, CO or CH4. The system includes a manifold gas source input for profile sampling and an infrared gas analyzer for in situ CO2 concentration measurements. Measurements of delta13C and delta18O of all 33 samples can run unattended and take less than six hours for CO2. Laboratory tests with three gases (compressed air with different pCO2 and stable isotope compositions) showed a measurement precision of 0.03 per thousand for delta13C and 0.02 per thousand for delta18O of CO2 (standard error (SE), n = 11). A field test of our system, in which 66 air samples were collected within a 24-hour period above grassland, showed a correlation of 0.99 (r2) between the inverse of pCO2 and delta13C of CO2. Storage of samples until analysis is possible for about 1 week; this can be an important factor for sampling in remote areas. A wider range of applications in the field is open with our system, since sampling and analysis of CO and CH4 for stable isotope composition is also possible. Samples of compressed air had a measurement precision (SE, n = 33) of 0.03 per thousand for delta13C and of 0.04 per thousand for delta18O on CO and of 0.07 per thousand for delta13C on CH4. Our system should therefore further facilitate research of trace gases in the context of the carbon cycle in the field, and opens many other possible applications with carbon- and possibly non-carbon-containing trace gases.     

Evaluation of denuder sampling for a mixture of three common gaseous diisocyanates

A denuder sampler has been evaluated for a mixture of three gaseous diisocyanates, i.e. toluene diisocyanate (TDI), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI). Sampling was performed at a total concentration of diisocyanates close to the Swedish occupational exposure limit (OEL), which is 10 ppbv (69-92 microg m(-3)), for a 5-min period. The denuder tube was coated with a chemosorptive stationary phase consisting of SE-30 (polydimethylsiloxane) and the derivatising reagent dibutylamine (DBA). It was shown that the denuder has a collection efficiency for HDI and IPDI comparable to that of an impinger method, while sampling of TDI resulted in an 8% lower concentration. Both short-term (15 min) and long-term (8 h) sampling periods were shown to yield reproducible results. For 8-h measurements, a sampling flow rate of 5 mL min(-1) was shown to be suitable for the investigated concentration range, i.e. 10-100 ppbv (69-921 microg m(-3)). A flow rate of 25 mL min(-1) or higher resulted in breakthrough after 8 h due to chromatography of the compounds in the adsorbent. The limit of detection (LOD) for the air sampling method is nearly 500 times lower than the OEL. The denuder tubes can be prepared at least 10 days prior to sampling without degradation of performance. Furthermore, they can be stored up to 6 days in a freezer after sampling without significant loss of analytes.     

Annular diffusion denuder for simultaneous removal of gaseous organic compounds and air oxidants during sampling of carbonaceous aerosols

A specially designed annular diffusion denuder for simultaneous removal of organic gaseous compounds and atmospheric oxidants in carbonaceous aerosol sampling is presented. Various kinds of denuder coatings were compared with respect to the collection efficiency of both organic gaseous compounds and NO₂ and ozone. The optimum sorbent is a mixture of activated charcoal and sulfite on molecular sieve. To ensure high collection efficiency over long-term field operation, two annular diffusion denuders are combined in series. The first half of the first denuder is filled with Na₂SO₃ on molecular sieve (23 cm long layer) while the second half of the first denuder and the whole second denuder are filled with activated charcoal (the total length of the charcoal section is 67 cm).     

Mechanisms of nucleophilic reactions of carbonyl compounds in the gas phase and in a solution

The effect of substituents on nucleophilic addition at the C=O bond, which occurs by the mechanism of intramolecular proton transfer, has been studied by the quantum-chemical MNDO/H method. The effect of nucleophiles and substituents at the carbonyl C atom in the gas phase is opposite to that in solution. Strengthening of the bond between the nucleophile and the carbonyl compound as the result of the transfer of electron density to the carbonyl C atom results in the stabilization of the tetrahedral bipolar adduct. In the formation of an adduct with a strong nucleophile the geometry of the transition state (TS) is closer to that of the reaction product, whereas in the case of a weak nucleophile it is similar to that of the initial reagents. Attack by a weak nucleophile and electron-donating groups at the carbonyl C atom favor the situation in which the reaction system achieves a TS earlier and proton transfer occurs with a low activation barrier.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 227–230, February, 1994.     

Dynamic system for the calibration of semi-volatile carbonyl compounds in air

A dynamic calibration system designed for generating accurate and precise concentrations of semi-volatile carbonyls in the ppb (v/v) (ppbv)-ppt (v/v) (pptv) range has been developed and tested. Alkanals from C6 to C9 were used as test compounds. Diffusion rates of their vapours from capillary tubes were determined theoretically and with two methods whose accuracy was independently evaluated with liquid standard solutions. Methods selected for testing the calibration system were those commonly used for the selective quantification of carbonyls in air. One is based on the well-known reaction with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH), followed by the analysis of formed hydrazones by HPLC-UV. The other is based on the retention of carbonyls on graphitic carbon adsorbents, followed by MS detection of the sample injected into a capillary column by thermal desorption. A good consistency was found between the values of the diffusion rates determined by the two methods. The scatter between the two methods was in the range of +/-10% when diffusion rates of ca. 1 ng/s were attained. Experimental values closely approached those calculated by applying the equation describing the diffusion of a vapour in equilibrium with the liquid through a capillary tube.     

Development of a highly sensitive method for determining atmospheric carbonyl compounds by passive sampling and application of the method to a survey of indoor air

A simple, highly sensitive analytical method for measuring many kinds of carbonyls in air using a passive sampler containing a sorbent (silica gel) coated with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine has been developed. The carbonyls collected by the sampler were extracted with a solvent, and the extracts were subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC; UV detection) without first being concentrated. In this method, the volume injection is examined, and is found to have a sensitivity at least 20 times that of ordinary HPLC methods. The air concentrations of nine carbonyls collected by passive sampling over a period of 24?h were estimated by means of conversion equations derived from the results of active sampling;c?=?^{10[log ( y} )^{??? b ] a} , where c is the carbonyl concentration in air (µg/m³); y is the amount of carbonyl collected by the passive sampler (µg); and a and b are constants for each carbonyl compound. The calculated air concentrations were consistent with the concentrations measured by active sampling. This method may be useful in determining personal exposure to ambient carbonyls.     

Determination of carbonyl compounds in exhaust gas by using a modified DNPH-method

The determination of carbonyl compounds in gaseous samples is usually accomplished by enrichment methods, in which 2,4-dinitrophenyl-hydrazine (DNPH) as a derivatization reagent has become established to a large extent. However, the conventional methods of DNPH-impingers and of DNPH-cartridges are applicable to emission measurements in a limited way only, depending on the NO₂-concentration in the exhaust gas. It could be proved that DNPH-derivatives, as well as DNPH, are also decomposed by NO₂ at a different speed, in which the hydrazones of unsaturated carbonyl compounds are probably more sensitive than those of the saturated carbonyl compounds. In view of this fact, the collecting methods had to be modified to avoid losses with the enrichment. The analysis of the compounds is carried out by HPLC with an effective gradient-system which is able to separate and detect the carbonyl compounds in exhaust gas within 16 min. Furthermore, a simple working-up procedure is presented which facilitates a parallel analysis by GC.