HEADSPACE GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC SEPARATION OF TOXIC ORGANIC IMPURITIES FROM AIR

To determine toxic organic compounds (methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, a cetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone) in air a method w as developed for their headspace gas chromatographic analysis with pre concentration in n-butanol (alcohols) and in n-pentanol (ketones). The distribution coefficients of analytes in the air-absorbent system hav e been measured: 1051 (MeOH), 5630 (EtOH), 6773 (n-PrOH), 307 (Me2CO), 580 (MeCOEt), 1035 (MeCOBu-i). The minimum detectable level (mg m(-3) ) was determined as low as 0.9 (MeOH), 4.0 (EtOH), 0.9 (n-PrOH), 0.2 ( Me2CO), 0.1 (MeCOEt),0.4 (MeCOBu-i). The method was effectively used f or gas effluent air control in the workplace and in the atmosphere.