Investigation of the storage stability of selected volatile sulfur compounds in different sampling containers

The suitability of various sample containers (i.e. standard Tedlar sample b ags, black/clear layered Tedlar sample bags and Silcosteel sample cylinders ) was examined for a gaseous multicomponent standard containing methylmerca ptan, ethylmercaptan, dimethyl sulfide, ethylmethyl sulfide, 2-propylmercap tan, 1-propylmercaptan, 2-butylmercaptan, diethyl sulfide and 1-butylmercap tan (I mg/m(3) each in nitrogen). In the black/clear layered Tedlar sample bags, significant losses (up to 10% For methylmercaptan as the most critica l component) were observed after 2 days, whereas in the standard Tedlar sam ple bags the recovery of methylmercaptan was approximately 90% even after 1 week. The Silcosteel sample cylinders were suitable for sampling of volati le sulfur compounds with respect to the stability of the analytes, but the recoveries exceeded 100% especially for the higher boiling compounds, which was attributed to enrichment effects on parts of the sampling system. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.