Abstract |
Four isocyanates are listed for regulation in the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990: hexamethylene-1,6 diisocyanate, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, and 2,4-toluene diisocyanate, each of which is used in the production of polymers, and methyl isocyanate which is an intermediate in the manufacture of the insecticide carbaryl. To support projected regulations, a study is under way to produce a source sampling and analysis method for the four pollutants cited above. In the procedure under development, the isocyanates are collected in an absorbing solution and derivatized with 1-(2-pyridyl)piperazine and analyzed by HPLC with UV detection. A system was developed in the laboratory to generate isocyanate atmospheres for optimization of sampling parameters and chromatographic conditions. The accuracy and precision of the method is determined in the field using train spiking and multiprobe sampling following the procedures outlined in EPA Method 301. |