GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF STYRENE IN AMBIENT AIR AND EMISSIONS

The method of styrene determination in ambient air and source emission s is described. Styrene undergoes sorption on activated charcoal. Deso rption with carbon disulphide is associated with free radical polymeri zation of styrene which, at low styrene concentrations, results in dec reased recovery burdened with large experimental scatter and excessive variability with the lapse of extraction time. Polymerization of styr ene is prevented by fortification of carbon disulphide with diethylhyd roxylamine. Quantitative analysis is carried out by gas chromatography . The limit of determination is 0.5 mu g m(-3) and 3 mu g m(-3) for ca pillary and packed columns, respectively.