DETERMINATION OF POLYACRYLATE SUPER ABSORBENT POLYMERS IN AIR

A sampling and analytical method has been developed for measurement of a starch-grafted, cross-linked sodium polyacrylate in air. Also, the method is applicable to measurement of several other polyacrylate supe r absorbent polymers and involves air sampling with a 37-mm PVC membra ne filter, treatment of the sample with 0.07 M cupric acetate solution to form a copper-polymer precipitate, digestion of the precipitate wi th nitric and perchloric acids, and measurement of the copper content by inductively-coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrophotometry. The i nterior surface of the front piece of the filter cassette also is anal yzed. This analytical method has been compared with a sodium method th at currently is used. Detection limits for various super absorbent pol ymers ranged from 4.4 to 14 micrograms per sample.