EVALUATION OF ADSORBENTS FOR SAMPLING AND QUANTITATIVE-ANALYSIS OF MICROBIAL VOLATILES USING THERMAL DESORPTION-GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY

Eight adsorbents were evaluated for sampling and quantitative analysis of microbially produced volatiles using thermal desorption-gas chroma tography. The adsorbents studied were Tenax TA, Tenax GR, Chromosorb 1 02, Carbotrap C, Carbopack B, Anasorb 727, Anasorb 747 and Porasil C/n -octane (Durapak). The study was performed using a test atmosphere con sisting of ten compounds differing in polarity and volatility: a-propa nol, dimethyl disulfide, toluene, furfural, 1-octen-3-ol, 3-octanone, 3-octanol, 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine, 2-methylisoborneol and geosm in. The adsorbents were tested under conditions found in ''sick buildi ngs''-low mu g/m(3) levels and varying humidity. Tenax TA proved to ha ve the best properties considering the amount obtained, breakthrough a nd standard deviation during sampling/analysis.