Advanced Methodologies for Adsorption/Thermal Desorption with Tenax‐TA for the Analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Sulfur Compounds

Abstract

We have evaluated an analytical method for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and sulfur compounds in air by means of adsorption/temperature‐programmed thermal desorption (ATPTD) with small bed volume (0.08g) Tenax‐TA cartridges, followed by a cryogenic trap in a precolumn with liquid nitrogen as an appropriate concentration method before capillary gas chromatography is described. The enriched components from the adsorption cartridges are transferred to the capillary column with a valveless switching system. Recoveries were determined for the complete ATPTD method. Desorption recoveries near 100% were found for various of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and sulfur compounds. The sulfur compounds known to cause nuisance odors in the atmosphere near sulfur recovery and sewerage treatment works were also determined.

Flux estimation of oceanic dimethyl sulfide around North America

“…DMS concentrations were measured by a Hewlett Packard 5890 series II gas chromatograph equipped with a Sulphur Chemiluminescence Detector (SCD, Sievers Instruments Ltd.). Sample tubes were placed in the splitless injector of the GC and thermally desorbed at 170øC [Sye and Wu, 1992]. The experiments performed in the laboratory showed that 98% of DMS was recovered at this temperature.…”

Field sampling of trace levels of hydrogen sulfide with the use of solid adsorbent preconcentration

“…Examples include trace levels of formaldehyde, 14 lower-molecular-weight hydrocarbons, 15,16 the chemicalwarfare agent mustard gas, 17 volatile hydrocarbons in indoor air, 18 dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethyl sulfone in air, 19 or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. 20 Recently, a multistage solid adsorbent trapping system has also been developed for analysis of ppt-level volatile organic trace gases (especially halocarbons). 21 Analytical developments for quantifying hydrogen sulfide emissions have progressed considerably over the past 20 years.…”