Determination of volatile carbonyl compounds in clean air

Summary An improved analytical procedure has been developed for the detection of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone and other volatile carbonyls in clean air. For sampling, 2,4-dinitrophenyl-hydrazine (DNPH) coated silica gel cartridges were used. DNPH reacts with carbonyls and forms carbonyl hydrazones which are extracted with acetonitrile and subsequently separated by reversed phase HPLC. Sampling flow rates up to 3.5 l/min were tested. The quantification limit of the complete sampling and analytical procedure is 60 ng carbonyl which corresponds to a mixing ratio of 1 ppbv HCHO in a 45 l air sample taken during a sampling time of 13 min. Carbonyl mixing ratios down to 0.1 ppbv can be determined. The collection efficiency and the elution recovery range between 96 and 100%; the precision is ±5% for HCHO and ±4% for CH₃CHO at mixing ratios of 1 ppbv. This technique can also be applied for the determination of aldehydes and ketones in the aqueous phase, e.g. cloud and fog water. In this case, carbonyls were converted to hydrazones simply by mixing the aqueous sample with an acidified DNPH solution. After 40 min reaction time, the hydrazones were analysed by HPLC. The detection limit was 0.2 mol HCHO/l. Possible interference caused by ozone and NO₂ was eliminated by using KI filters connected in series with the DNPH-coated cartridges. The analytical procedure was tested at a mountain measuring station and proved to be a suitable method for monitoring carbonyl compounds in clean air.     

Simultaneous determination of HCHO,CH3CHO and O(x) in ambient air by hydrazine reagent and hplc

Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, ozone and nitrogen dioxide in ambient air are simultaneously collected on silica gel cartridges coated with 1-methyl-1-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydrazine (MDNPH), where the two aldehydes are derivatized to their respective hydrazones, while the two oxidants are converted into N-methyl-2,4-dinitroaniline (MDNA). The three products are then separated and quantified by HPLC with UV detection at 360 nm. The stoichiometric factors of the MDNPH reactions with O3 and NO2 in laboratory tests correspond to 2.0 +/- 0.1 moles of MDNA per mole of O(x) (O3 + NO2). The limits of detection (LOD) are 0.7 ppbv HCHO, 0.8 ppbv CH3CHO and 1.6 ppbv O(x) for 30 L (1 h) air sampled. The sampling performance is insensitive to relative humidities encountered in real atmospheres. When compared with Sep-Pak DNPH silica cartridges as well as with ozone photometric and nitrogen dioxide chemiluminescent analyzers, the proposed chromatographic method demonstrates a very good accuracy (12% for HCHO, 14% for CH3CHO and 7% for O(x), on the average) under field sampling conditions at concentrations lower than 3 and 1 ppbv, for HCHO and CH3CHO, respectively and ranging from 28 to 62 ppbv for O(x).     

Evaluation of silica gel cartridges coated in situ with acidified 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine for sampling aldehydes and ketones in air

A procedure for coating in situ silica gel in prepacked cartridges with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) acidified with hydrochloric acid is described. The coated cartridge was compared with a validated DNPH impinger method for sampling organic carbonyl compounds (aldehydes and ketones) in diluted automotive exhaust emissions and in ambient air for subsequent analysis of the DNPH derivatives by high performance liquid chromatography. Qualitative and quantitative data are presented that show that the two sampling devices are equivalent. The coated cartridge is ideal for long-term sampling of carbonyls at sub to low parts-per-billion level in ambient air or for short-term sampling of carbonyls at low ppb to parts-per-million level in diluted automotive exhaust emissions. An unknown degradation product of acrolein has been tentatively identified as x-acrolein. The disappearance of acrolein in the analytical sample matrix correlates quantitatively almost on a mole for mole basis with the growth of x-acrolein. The sum of the concentration of acrolein and x-acrolein appears to be invariant with time.     

A diffusive sampling device for simultaneous determination of ozone and carbonyls

A new diffusive sampling method for the simultaneous determination of ozone and carbonyls in air has been developed. In this method, silica gel impregnated with a mixture of trans-1,2-bis(2-pyridyl)ethylene (2BPE) and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) is used as the absorbent; further, a porous sintered polyethylene tube (PSP-diffusion filter), which acts as a diffusive membrane, and a small polypropylene syringe (PP-reservoir) for elution of the analytes from the absorbent are used. The carbonyls present in air react with DNPH in the absorbent to form hydrazone derivatives. Concurrently, ozone in the air reacts with 2BPE to form pyridine-2-aldehyde, which immediately reacts with DNPH to form a pyridine-2-aldehyde hydrazone derivative. All the hydrazones derived from airborne carbonyls, including pyridine-2-aldehyde (formed from ozone), are completely separated and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The sampling rates of ozone (44.6 mL min(-1)) and formaldehyde (72.0 mL min(-1)) are determined by comparison with the rates obtained in an active sampling method. The sampling rates of other carbonyl compounds are calculated from the respective molecular weights according to a rule based on Graham's law. The calculated sampling rates agree with the experimental values. The DSD-BPE/DNPH method is advantageous because it is simple and allows for the simultaneous analysis of ozone and carbonyls.     

Simultaneous determination of formic acid and lower carbonyls in air samples by DNPH derivatization

The classical derivatization method of carbonyls based on 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH)-coated silica cartridges was tested to concurrently measure lower carbonyls and carboxylic acids in air samples. The performance of these cartridges with respect to formic and acetic acids was evaluated in a number of laboratory measurements on collection and reaction efficiencies. The results showed that HCOOH appeared to have been efficiently collected and derivatized (at 80 degrees C for 8 h) up to air-flow rates of 350 mL/min, while CH(3)COOH was almost completely lost from the cartridge above 100 mL/min. Also due to the high LOD of HCOOH (0.8 microg/m(3)) for 120 L of air sampled during 8 h, the DNPH method might be used only in indoor environments polluted by formic acid as well as carbonyls.     

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     

Determination of olefinic aldehydes and other volatile carbonyls in air samples by DNPH-coated cartridges and HPLC

Summary The collection of low-boiling olefinic aldehydes on 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH)-coated adsorbents (silica cartridges and glass denuders) is examined. Concurrent formation of two different hydrazones by both acrolein and crotonaldehyde is reported and discussed. Identification and quantitation of these compounds do not represent a problem in HPLC analysis, because of their separation from other C₃ and C₄ carbonyl derivatives present in airborne sample extracts.     

Air monitoring of aldehydes by use of hydrazine reagents with a triazine backbone

Two hydrazine reagents, 4- N, N-dimethylamino-6-(4'-methoxy-1'-naphthyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2-hydrazine (DMNTH) and N-methyl-4- N', N'-dimethylamino-6-(4'-methoxy-1'-naphthyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2-hydrazine (MDMNTH) have been synthesized and used for the determination of aldehydes in air samples. Test tubes with the reagents coated on silica gel were prepared and used for monitoring of carbonyls in air. After elution with acetonitrile the hydrazones formed were separated by reversed-phase liquid chromatography. Detection was performed by UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results were validated by use of standard atmospheres of the carbonyls and of nitrogen dioxide and ozone, as potential interferents. In comparison with established hydrazine reagents, e.g. 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH), the results from use of MDMNTH correlate well; lower recoveries were obtained by use of DMNTH. The limits of detection for the new reagents are superior to those for DNPH, because of the possibility of fluorescence detection.     

Aldehydes in the atmospheric environment: evaluation of human exposure in the north-west area of Milan

Human exposure to aldehydes has been evaluated in five urban locations and one rural-industrial location in the north-west area of Milan in winter 1999 and in summer 1998–99. Ambient air samples collected on dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH)-coated diffusive cartridges were analysed for aldehydes as their DNPH-derivatives. Aldehydes have been identified and their concentration measured via HPLC-UV and LC-APCI-MS negative ion mode methods. During the winter the range of total concentration of aldehydes was 16.7–30.7 μg/m³ at the urban locations and 11.7 μg/m³ at the rural-industrial location. Formaldehyde accounted for 50% of the total amount of carbonyl compounds in all locations; the percentage of acetaldehyde was more variable: 23–38% of the total carbonyls. The contribution of outdoor environment to the average human daily intake of formaldehyde in this area (urban and rural-industrial) is mostly 1–2% of the total human exposure.     

Decomposition of linear dodecylbenzenesulfonate by simultaneous treatment with ozone and ultraviolet irradiation: rapid disappearance of formed mutagens.

The decomposition products and mutagenic activity in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, TA100 and TA104 in the presence and absence of S9 mix of linear dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBS) in aqueous solution after ozone treatment alone or simultaneous treatment with ozone and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation (ozone/UV treatment) were investigated. The decomposed DBS solutions after these treatments for 4 h were mutagenic for strains TA98, TA100 and TA104 both with and without S9 mix, but this mutagenicity disappeared rapidly during further ozone/UV treatment. Mutagenicity of the decomposed solution of DBS, however, was not substantially decreased by treatment with ozone alone. Formaldehyde and glyoxal were identified as the decomposition products of DBS in water by high-performance liquid chromatography after treatment with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. Although these two compounds were mutagenic for strain TA104 both with and without S9 mix, they disappeared after further ozone/UV treatment but not after ozone treatment alone. These results indicate that ozone/UV treatment is an effective procedure for purifying drinking water.     

Trace analysis of carbonyl compounds by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry after collection as 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine derivatives.

This study describes the utilization of carbonyl- 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) derivatives for the determination of a micro amount of carbonyl compounds in air by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). After the carbonyl compounds are collected using a Waters Sep-Pak C18 cartridge column with-impregnated DNPH on octadecylsilica, they are eluted by acetonitrile as carbonyl-DNPH derivatives. A 20-mm3 aliquot of eluent is injected into the LC-MS system. The four derivatives (formaldehyde-, acetaldehyde-, acrolein- and acetone-DNPH) were eluted within 7 min with acetonitrile-water (60:40, v/v) as the mobile phase. The proposed method offers sub-ppb sensitivity and good reproducibility and was applied to the determination of these carbonyl compounds in actual air samples from store rooms, laboratories and offices. The relative standard deviations for these samples (n = 6) were 1 to 3%.     

Determination of acrolein and other carbonyls in cigarette smoke using coupled silica cartridges impregnated with hydroquinone and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine

A new method for the determination of acrolein and other carbonyls in cigarette smoke using a dual cartridge system has been developed. Each cartridge consists of reagent-impregnated silica particles. The first contains hydroquinone (HQ) for the inhibition of acrolein polymerization, while the second contains 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) for the derivatization of carbonyls. Smoke samples were firstly drawn through the cartridge containing HQ-impregnated silica (HQ-silica) and then through the DNPH-impregnated silica (DNPH-silica). Acrolein in the sample was completely trapped in the first HQ-silica cartridge. Some other airborne carbonyls were also trapped by the HQ-silica, and those that pass through were trapped in the second DNPH-silica cartridge. Extraction was performed in the reverse direction to air sampling. When solvent was eluted through the dual-cartridges, excess DNPH was washed into the HQ bed where it reacted with acrolein and other trapped carbonyls to form the corresponding hydrazone derivatives. All of the hydrazones derived from airborne carbonyls were completely separated and measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. This HQ-DNPH-method can be applied for the determination of acrolein and other α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, such as crotonaldehyde, in cigarette smoke.     

Improved HPLC methodology in occupational exposure studies on formaldehyde

Summary This work describes an HPLC method for the determination of formaldehyde concentration in air. Traps containing 20–40 mesh silica gel coated with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) are used. After aspiration of air the traps are eluted with methanol. The hydrazone formed is then separated on a C18 column using a mobile phase of methanolwater (50–50 v/v). The effluent is monitored with a UV detector at 365 nm. To calibrate and to compare this method with that of Niosh 2502 (traps coated with 2 benzylamino ethanol on Chromosorb 102), a mixing chamber that generated atmospheres of known concentration of formaldehyde was used.     

A New Method for the Measurement of Airborne Formaldehyde Using Derivatization with 3,5-Bis(Trifluoromethyl) Phenylhydrazine and Analysis by GC-ECD and GC-MS/SIM

Abstract

A new method was developed and described for the measurement of airborne formaldehyde using derivatization with 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenylhydrazine (TFMPH) coated onto silica solid phase extraction cartridges. Analysis by GC-ECD provides a detection limit of 74 ng formaldehyde per sample. A field study was conducted to compare the use of TFMPH to 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) and NIOSH method 3500 (chromotropic acid, CTA). Samples were collected from indoor and outdoor environments known or suspected to contain formaldehyde. Use of TFMPH with GC-ECD analysis correlates well with both methods (R²=0.93, slope=1.07 vs. DNPH; R²=0.99, slope=1.06 vs. CTA). Spiked samples were shown to be stable at least 7 days when stored at –20 °C. Analysis of samples by GC-MS with selected ion monitoring (GC-MS/SIM) also proved feasible. Laboratory and field results show the use of TFMPH to be viable for quantifying airborne formaldehyde in occupational and environmental samples.     

Intermethod comparisons of active sampling procedures and analysis of aldehydes at environmental levels

Within the framework of a European interlaboratory exercise, the Vito facility for the generation of controlled atmospheres was used to test the suitability of four sampling techniques for priority aldehydes namely formaldehyde, acrolein, acetaldehyde, and glutaraldehyde at the ranges of 0.5 to 150 microg x m(-3). The samplers are DNPH-containing impingers, DNPH-impregnated cartridges and filters, and 2-HMP coated XAD-2 tubes. The three first DNPH samplers are to be analyzed by HPLC and the latter by GC-MS for the oxazolidine derivatives. The intermethod comparison comprises two to five sets of experiments depending on the compounds of interest. The aim of the exercise was also to assess the chemical interferences caused by ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and ammonia when using different techniques for sampling and analysis. The active DNPH method (with minor modifications such as shorter sampling time, immediate elution after sampling, and/or eventually wetting of samplers) delivered results within the 30% overall relative uncertainty for formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein at the upper microg x m(-3) levels. However, the results suggest that the current DNPH methods for aldehydes do not comply with the 30% minimum performance criteria at the sub microg x m(-3) level. Sampling of aldehydes in the presence of ozone and NO2 interferences by using a "scrubber" cartridge appears to be beneficial to the quality of results.     

A Fractional Factorial Design Applied to the Optimization of Microwave- and Ultrasound-Assisted Acid Leaching Methods for Heavy Metals Determination in Sludges by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Abstract

The sampling performance of C₁₈ cartridges coated with DNPH has been studied for twenty four C₁-C₉ carbonyls in experiments involving sampling of parts per billion levels of carbonyls in urban air. indoor air and laboratory experiments. The cartridge background carbonyl content in thirty six batches of cartridges averaged 85, 137 and 155 nanogram/cartridge for formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acetone, respectively, and was below analytical detection for all other carbonyls. Carbonyl-DNPH derivative recovery from the cartridge was complete in the first elution with 2 mL acetonitrile, and this for twenty four carbonyls at concentrations of 0.02–73 μg carbonyl/cartridge. Studies carried out using two cartridges in series showed no breakthrough, for the sixteen carbonyls tested, at concentrations of 0.10–49 μg carbonyl/cartridge and volumes of air sampled = 6–370 L. Average relative standard deviations (RSD) for replicate analyses were 0.20–13.2% for twenty one carbonyls. Average RSD for co-located samples were 0.9–16.2% for eighteen carbonyls. Comparison of RSD for replicates and RSD for co-located samples for thirteen carbonyls indicated that the overall method precision was limited by sampling precision rather than by analytical precision.     

Determination of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in air by HPLC with fluorescence detection

Summary Sensitive detection of atmospheric formaldehyde and acetaldehyde can be achieved by use of silica-gel cartridges impregnated with 2-diphenylacetyl-1,3-indandione-1-hydrazone (DAIH) to form fluorescent DAI hydrazones. The hydrazones are extracted with acetonitrile and separated by reversed-phase HPLC with fluorimetric detection. The low detection limits achieved (0.25 ppb CH₂O or CH₃CHO for sampling periods of 1 h) means that the sensitivity of the method is better than that of the classical dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) method. Several experimental conditions, such as collection and reaction efficiency, interference by ozone and storage stability of blank and sampled cartridges have been investigated. There were no significant differences between ambient concentrations of CH₂O and CH₃CHO measured concurrently with the DAIH and DNPH techniques (10–20% in the 0–5 ppb range).     

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.     

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.     

涂布2,4-二硝基苯肼的环形溶蚀器/滤膜系统和高效液相色谱法检测大气中二羰基化合物

建立了环形溶蚀器/滤膜系统(Annular denuder/filter pack system)和2,4-二硝基苯肼(DNPH)-高效液相色谱法(HPLC)采集和检测大气中气相和颗粒相二羰基化合物的方法。DNPH作为吸附剂分别涂布在环形溶蚀器的内壁和3层滤膜上,当大气样品经过环形溶蚀器时,含有气相二羰基化合物的气体吸附到环形溶蚀管内壁上与DN-PH发生反应,而颗粒相部分穿过环形溶蚀管,采集到滤膜上。样品经乙腈洗脱、浓缩后,采用HPLC进行分析。根据不同的采样流速、采样时间和DNPH的涂布量采集到的二羰基化合物的浓度,确定的最佳采样条件为:采样流速4 L/min,采样时间4~5 h,DNPH浓度0.47 g/L。使用Tedlar bag验证环形溶蚀器乙二醛和甲基乙二醛的采集效率(分别为82%和85%)。利用此方法对实际大气中的二羰基化合物进行了检测。