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GAS CHROMATOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF ISOPRENE IN AIR
Citation:
Arnts, R., E. L. Singsaas, AND T. D. Sharkey. GAS CHROMATOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF ISOPRENE IN AIR. Modern Methods of Plant Analysis, Vol. 19, Plant Volatile Analysis. Springer-Verlag, New York, NY, , 48-71, (1997).
Description:
The chapter discusses gas chromatographic techniques for measuring isoprene in air. Such measurement basically consists of three parts: (1) collection of sufficient sample volume for representative and accurate quantitation, (2) separation (if necessary) of isoprene from interfering substances in the sample matrix, and (3) detection of isoprene. Selection of the gas sampling, separation, and detection combination appropriate for a given experiment should be based on considering: (1) expected concentration range, (2) limitations of sample volume and sampling rate, (3) frequency of measurement, (4) complexity of sample matrix, (5) field or laboratory measurement (portability), and (6) cost. Isoprene emission from plants was discovered in 1966 during a study of plant-insect interactions. Isoprene, 2-methyl-1,3-butadien, appears to have no role in plant-insect interactions, but the amount of isoprene emitted is so great that it affects atmospheric chemistry and may be important to the carbon balance of some plants. Isoprene emission from plants was independently discovered while plant hydrocarbon emissions were being studied. Isoprene is the root member of a large class of compounds, many of which are important to plant fragrance. Isoprene is not universally appealing when in high enough concentration to be detected by odor.