SummaryEstablished standard methods for analyzing semi-volatile pollutants by capillary gas chromatography are cumbersome, time-consuming, and expensive. With the longer term aim of replacing the sample preparation procedures with convenient concentrating and thermal desorption steps, thick film silicone rubber traps were constructed in a novel multi-channel configuration. Tests were performed to determine breakthrough volumes and thermal desorption characteristics for total transfer of the trap contents to a capillary column. Initial results are very promising.

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The application of Multichannel Silicone Rubber Traps for the direct analysis of organic compounds in water was studied. The optimum collection flow rate for a 10 mL sample was found to be ca. 150 μL·min–1. The effect of methanol on the retention power of the trap was evaluated. The addition of a methanol fraction of up to 40% to the water standards did not show any loss in collection efficiency. It was shown that the extraction of organic compounds from water with the multichannel trap is uncomplicated, i. e. methanol is not required to achieve accurate analyses, concentration of the sample onto the trap is by gravity flow, and excess water remaining in the multichannel trap after water extraction is removed by centrifugation. With the use of the multichannel silicone rubber trap a wide boiling point range of compounds were analyzed from aqueous samples at levels of 1–4 μg·L–1.

SummaryThe application of Multichannel Silicone Rubber Traps for the direct analysis of organic compounds in water was studied. The optimum collection flow rate for a 10 mL sample was found to be ca.