ANALYSIS OF SODIUM POLYACRYLATE ABSORBENT DUST USING ULTRA-TRACE SODIUM ANALYSIS - A 7-COMPANY COLLABORATIVE STUDY

Seven companies that either manufacture cross-linked polyacrylate abso rbents (PA) or manufacture products that contain PA have developed in situ methods to measure trace levels of PA dust. The method uses sodiu m present in PA as the tracer element and involves careful pre-cleanin g of sampling cassettes and filters. Cassette and filter pre-cleaning as well as sample collection, extraction, and analysis are carried out in a sealed cassette assembly, hence the term ''in situ''. Inadverten t contamination of the cassette assembly during shipping and handling or during solution transfer is thereby eliminated. Limits of detection for PA range from 0.11 to 2.4 mu g/m(3) and the seven companies avera ged 0.7 mu g/m(3). This report contains the results of an inter-compan y collaborative trial conducted to assess the accuracy, precision, and limits of detection for the in situ methods used by the seven compani es.