Abstract |
Diffusive sampling of 1,3-butadiene for 24 h onto the graphic absorbent Carbopack X packed in a stainless steel tube badge with analysis by thermal desorption/gas chromatography (GC) mass spectrometry (MS) has been evaluated in controlled tests. A test matrix of 42 trace-level volatile organic compounds in humidified zero air was established by dynamic dilution of compressed gas standards flowing through an environmental chamber. Conditions for both automated thermal desorption of the badge and GC/MS analyses were optimized for specificity, precision, and sensitivity of response. Analytical system responses for sets of tubes exposed to a given 1, 3-butadiene concentration were typically precise, e.g., a %RSD<10% at 0.5 ppbv, and system response was approximately linear with concentration over the range 0-4 ppbv. No significant systematic variations of response were observed for changes in sample humidity and temperature. Loss of 1, 3-butadiene from tube badge due to reverse diffusion into clean air over 12 h after an initial 12-h exposure at 4 ppbv gave an 11% response decrease. Adding 100 ppbv of ozone during the second 12 h caused no additional response change. |