Determination of carbon disulphide in air as xanthogenate by ion chromatography and capillary electrophoresis

A simple and sensitive method is presented for the measurement of carbon di sulphide in air without interference from other gaseous sulphides. The proc edure is based on the collection of CS2 in an ethanolic solution of KOH, wh ere It is converted to potassium ethyl xanthogenate (PEX). The latter is de termined by high-performance ion chromatography (HPIC) and/or capillary zon e electrophoresis (CZE). Laboratory and field determination of detection li mit, reproducibility and linearity, and specific advantages over other gas chromatographic and wet chemical methods, are discussed. Quantitative measu rements of CS2 in air can be performed after sampling for 1 h with limits o f detection as low as 15 ppb by HPIC and ca 0.1 ppm by CZE.