Simultaneous determination of semivolatile organic compounds in indoor air by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after solid-phase extraction

A method is described for simultaneous determination of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in indoor air by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The selected 73 SVOCs were collected using combined adsorbents (quartz fiber filter disk and Empore disk) for 24 h at a 5.0 l/min flow rate. The SVOCs collected were extracted with acetone, concentrated, then analyzed by an internal standard method. Forty compounds (19 plasticizers and flame retardants; 19 insecticides; 1 synergist; and 1 fungicide) among the target SVOCs were determined accurately and precisely. The method of detection limits for these compounds were approximately 0.5 ng/m3 for most of the SVOCs. The collected SVOC samples could be stored for up to 1 month at 4 C in the refrigerator.