A simple method for the extraction of volatile organic compounds containedin air samples from adsorbent materials by solid phase microextraction andtheir analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

The monitoring of air pollution requires simple, rapid and sensitive sampli ng and analytical techniques with minimal sample manipulation that are usab le for routine analyses, In our laboratories we have developed a method for the analysis of air samples collected by adsorbent cartridges based on sol id phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to gas chromatography/mass spectrom etry, We investigated the influence of some variables (tine and temperature ) using toluene as analyte tone of the most common air pollutants) and tolu ene-d(8) on the SPME extraction, and the sensitivity (LOQ) of the method. W e then tested the method on an air sample collected in an industrial area a nd carried out characterisation of the volatile organic compounds present. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd,