APPLICABILITY OF CANISTERS FOR SAMPLE STORAGE IN THE DETERMINATION OFHAZARDOUS AIR-POLLUTANTS

This paper evaluates the applicability of canisters for storage of air samples containing volatile organic compounds listed among the 189 ha zardous air pollutants (HAPs) in the 1990 U.S. Clean Air Act Amendment s. Nearly 100 HAPs have sufficient vapor pressure to be considered vol atile compounds. Of those volatile organic HAPs, 52 have been tested p reviously for stability during storage in canisters. The published HAP stability studies are reviewed, illustrating that for most of the 52 HAPs tested, canisters are an effective sample storage approach. Howev er, the published stability studies used a variety of canister types a nd test procedures, and generally considered only a few compounds in a very small set of canisters. A comparison of chemical and physical pr operties of the HAPs has also been conducted, to evaluate the applicab ility of canister sampling for other HAPs, for which canister stabilit y testing has never been conducted. Of 45 volatile HAPs never tested i n canisters, this comparison identifies nine for which canisters shoul d be effective, and 17 for which canisters are not likely to be effect ive. For the other 19 HAPs, no clear decision can be reached on the li kely applicability of air sample storage in canisters.