New methodologies in trace analysis of volatile organic compounds

Two methods for sampling and concentration of volatile organic compounds are reported. In the first method, traps coated with a very thick film (ca. 100 μm) of cross-linked silicone stationary phase are employed. Such thick films can be prepared with a modified dynamic coating procedure, which is briefly described. The low phase ratio traps can be utilized for enrichment of volatiles from gaseous as well as aqueous matrices. The second technique is based on chromatographic evaporation of a solvent in a capillary tube, where the process is sustained by a repeated sample injection and a cyclic flow reversal. In this way, large solvent volumes can be handled by a small volume system. Under optimal conditions, when using a solvent barrier, quantitative recovery is possible even for compounds of comparatively high volatility. Another important application of the technique is extraction of trace components from gases such as headspace samples, polluted air, etc.     

Effect of biotransformation on multispecies plume evolution and natural attenuation

Biological transformation of volatile organic compounds is one of the key factors that influence contaminant-plume evolution and thus natural attenuation. In this study we investigate the effect of biological transformation on the transport of contaminants in the aqueous and gaseous phases. The analysis includes the study of the effect of density-driven advection of contaminants in the gaseous phase on multiphase and multispecies flow, fate and transport modeling in the subsurface. Trichloroethylene (TCE) and its two byproducts, dichloroethylene and vinyl chloride, are analyzed as the target contaminants. Our results indicate that density-driven advection of the gaseous phase, which is initiated by evaporation of TCE as a nonaqueous phase liquid, increases the downward and also the lateral migration of TCE within the unsaturated zone. This process also influences the location of high-concentration zones of the byproducts of TCE in the unsaturated and the saturated zones. Biotransformation of TCE contributes to the reduction of dissolved TCE plume development as expected. The daughter byproducts, which are introduced into the subsurface system, show distinct transport patterns as they are affected by their independent degradation kinetics and density-driven advection. These observations, which are based on our simulation results for biotransformation and transport of TCE and its byproducts, are useful in evaluating the natural attenuation processes, its potential health hazards and also the evaluation of potential plume development at contaminated sites.     

Elimination of matrix effects for headspace solid-phase microextraction of important volatile compounds in red wine using a novel coating

In this paper, hydroxy-terminated silicone oil-butyl methacrylate-divinylbenzene (OH-TSO-BMA-DVB) copolymer was first synthesized and used as stationary phase with the aid of γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxylsilane (KH-570) as bridge in solid-phase microextraction (SPME) using sol–gel method and cross-linking technique. It has high extraction efficiency for both polar alcohols and fatty acids and nonpolar esters in comparison with commercial PDMS, PDMS-DVB and PA fibers. A simple and sensitive headspace SPME-gas chromatography (HS-SPME-GC) method using the novel fiber was presented for the simultaneous analysis of both polar alcohols and fatty acids and nonpolar esters in wine. To check the matrix effects, various model wine matrices, including distilled water; 11.5% ethanol/water (v/v) solution; a concentrated synthetic wine; a ‘volatile-free’ wine and a real wine were investigated in detail. Matrix effects were compensated for by using internal standard method and selecting the ‘volatile-free’ wine as working standard. The method presented in this study showed satisfactory linearity, precision, detection limits and accuracy. The recoveries obtained ranged from 85.87 to 104.2%, and the relative standard deviation values were below 9%. The results obtained indicated that the present method is a validated and accurate procedure for the simultaneous determination of both polar and nonpolar aroma compounds in wine.     

毛蕊杜鹃挥发油化学成分研究

毛蕊杜鹃(Rhododendron tubulosum Ching ex wang wei-yei)系杜鹃花科杜鹃花属植物,分布于四川、西藏、甘肃和青海,其中青海分布最广,藏民常作为单方草药用于治疗肺炎和老年慢性气管炎,具有镇咳、祛痰作用,本文用自制的同时水汽蒸馏-溶剂萃取装置,从采自青海玉树州的毛蕊杜鹃鲜叶和嫩枝提取挥发油,用毛细管气相色谱-质谱和Kovats指数双重定性法对     

Use of capillary gas chromatography/sensory analysis as an additional tool for sampling technique comparison in peach aroma analysis

Capillary GC/sensory analysis was used to judge if dynamic headspace on sliced pulp and on intact fruit, and solvent extraction could collect the “character impact” and the “contributory” aroma compounds in peaches. Capillary GC/sensory data showed that the headspace techniques selectively recovered the “contributory” volatile compounds, which are strictly related to the characteristic odor of the various peach cultivars, whereas solvent extraction better quantified the “character impact” compounds (lactones).     

Feasibility of using solid sampling graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry for speciation analysis of volatile and non-volatile compounds of nickel and vanadium in crude oil

A method for the direct determination of volatile and non-volatile nickel and vanadium compounds in crude oil without previous treatment using direct solid sampling graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry is proposed. The crude oil samples were weighed directly onto solid sampling platforms using a microbalance and introduced into a transversely heated solid sampling graphite tube. In previous work of our group losses of volatile nickel and vanadium compounds have been detected, whereas other nickel and vanadium compounds were thermally stable up to 1300 and 1600 °C, respectively. In order to avoid this problem different chemical modifiers (conventional and permanent) have been investigated. With 400 μg of iridium as permanent modifier, the signal started to drop already after two atomization cycles, possibly because of an interaction of nickel (which is a catalyst poison) with iridium. Twenty micrograms of palladium applied in each determination was found to be optimum for both elements. The palladium was deposited on the platform and submitted to a drying step at 150 °C for 75 s. After that the sample was added onto the platform and submitted to the furnace program. The influence of sample mass on the linearity of the response and on potential measurement errors was also investigated using four samples with different nickel content. For the sample with the lowest nickel concentration the relationship between mass and integrated absorbance was found to be non-linear when a high sample mass was introduced. It was suspected that the modifier had not covered the entire platform surface, which resulted in analyte losses. This problem could be avoided by using 40 μL of 0.5 g L⁻¹ Pd with 0.05% Triton X-100. Calibration curves were established with and without modifier, with aqueous standards, oil-in-water emulsions and the certified reference material NIST SRM 1634c (trace metals in residual fuel oil). The sensitivity for aqueous standards and emulsions was close to that for SRM 1634c, making possible the use of aqueous standards for calibration. The limits of detection and quantification obtained for nickel and vanadium under this condition were found to be 0.02 and 0.06 μg g⁻¹, respectively, for both elements, based on 10 mg of sample. Nickel and vanadium were determined in the samples with (total Ni and V) and without the use of Pd (thermally stable compounds), and the concentration of volatile compounds was calculated by difference. The results were compared with those obtained by high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry by emulsion technique; no significant differences were found for total Ni and V at the 95% confidence level according to a Student's t-test.     

Identification of a chemical indicator of the rupture of 1,4-β-glycosidic bonds of cellulose in an oil-impregnated insulating paper system

In this study, headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry has been used to assess the volatile by-products generated by the ageing of oil-impregnated paper insulation of power transformers. Sealed-glass ampoules were used to age under oxidative conditions 0.5-g specimens of insulating paper in 9 mL of inhibited mineral oil in a temperature range of 60–120 °C and moisture of 0.5, 1 and 2% (w/w). A linear relationship between one of the oil-soluble degradation by-products, i.e. methanol, and the number of ruptured 1,4-β-glycosidic bonds of cellulose, regardless of the type of paper (ordinary Kraft or thermally-upgraded (TU) Kraft paper), was established for the first time in this field. Ageing at 130 °C of model compounds of the Kraft paper constituents (α-cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) and two cellulosic breakdown by-products (D-(+)-glucose and 1,6-anhydro-β-d-glucopyranose) confirmed that the α-cellulose degradation was mostly responsible for the presence of this molecule in the system. Furthermore, additional 130 °C-tests with six different papers and pressboard samples under a tight control of initial moisture indicated that at least one molecule of methanol is formed for each rupture of 1,4-β-glucosidic bond of the molecular chains. Stability tests showed that the ageing indicator is stable under the oxygen and temperature conditions of open-breathing transformers. The presence of methanol was detected in 94% of oil samples collected from over than 900 in-service pieces of equipment, confirming the potential for this application. Lastly, the tests have shown that oil-oxidation by-products and TU-nitrogenous agents modify the methanol partitioning coefficients in the paper/oil/air system, which makes their study essential over a range of field conditions encountered by power transformers. Results are presented and discussed in comparison with 2-furfuraldehyde, which is the current reference in the domain.     

Dynamic headspace analysis of trace volatile components in polymeric materials by wide bore capillary gas chromatography

A novel dynamic headspace gas chromatographic system equipped with a wide bore capillary column was constructed for direct analysis of less volatile components in polymeric materials such as coating paints. With this system, the determination of typical paint additives such as hindered amine light stabilizers and ultraviolet absorbers could be carried out within a short time.     

催化燃烧去除VOCs污染物的最新进展

催化燃烧是目前最有效的处理挥发性有机物(VOCs)技术之一. 本文从催化剂活性组分、催化剂载体、有效组分颗粒大小、水蒸汽的影响及催化燃烧反应中的积碳等几个方面, 对近年来催化燃烧处理VOCs的研究进行了总结. 分析表明: 贵金属催化剂的研究主要着重于选择有效的载体和双组分贵金属催化剂; 非贵金属催化剂的研究主要集中在高活性的过渡金属复合氧化物、钙钛矿和尖晶石型等催化剂的研制, 还有这些活性组分粒径大小及载体对催化燃烧VOCs反应活性的影响;此外, 在实际应用中,水蒸汽和催化剂积碳失活等问题对催化燃烧VOCs的反应也有很大影响. 本文的评述将为选择合适的催化燃烧技术处理VOCs污染物提供一定参考.