A two-column method for long-term monitoring of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) and oxygenated volatile organic compounds (o-VOCs)

J R Hopkins, A C Lewis, K A Read

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A method has been developed for Concurrent analysis of C-2-C-(7) hydrocarbons and C-2-C-5 oxygenated volatile organic compounds (o-VOCs) including alcohols, aldehydes. ketones and ethers. A multi-bed. Peltier-cooled adsorbent trap. consisting of Carboxen 1000 and Carbopack B. was used to acquire one Sample per hour. Upon injection the sample was split in an approximately 50:50 ratio between a 50 m aluminum oxide (Al2O3) porous layer open tubular (PLOT) Column and a 10 m LOWOX column. Eluents from each column were then analysed using flame ionisation detection (FID). Regular calibration of the system was performed using a standard cylinder mixture at the parts per billion by volume (ppbV) level for non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) and a permeation tube method for the oxygenated species. The system is fully automated with NMHC detection limits between I and 10 parts per trillion by volume (pptV) and o-VOC detection limits between 10 and 40 pptV.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)813
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Environmental Monitoring
Volume5
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2003

Keywords

  • GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION
  • RAIN WATER
  • AIR
  • DERIVATIZATION
  • BROMINATION
  • EMISSIONS
  • ALDEHYDES
  • ACROLEIN
  • SITES
  • GC

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