| Title: | "Evaluation of a portable gas chromatograph with photoionization detector under variations of VOC concentration, temperature, and relative humidity" |
| Author(s): | Soo JC; Lee EG; LeBouf RF; Kashon ML; Chisholm W; Harper M; |
| Address: | "a Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Morgantown , West Virginia. b Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Morgantown , West Virginia. c Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida" |
| DOI: | 10.1080/15459624.2018.1426860 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1545-9632 (Electronic) 1545-9624 (Print) 1545-9624 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The objective of this present study was to evaluate the performance of a portable gas chromatograph-photoionization detector (GC-PID), under various test conditions to determine if it could be used in occupational settings. A mixture of 7 volatile organic compounds (VOCs)-acetone, ethylbenzene, methyl isobutyl ketone, toluene, m-xylene, p-xylene, and o-xylene-was selected because its components are commonly present in paint manufacturing industries. A full-factorial combination of 4 concentration levels (exposure scenarios) of VOC mixtures, 3 different temperatures (25 degrees C, 30 degrees C, and 35 degrees C), and 3 relative humidities (RHs; 25%, 50%, and 75%) was conducted in a full-size controlled environmental chamber. Three repetitions were conducted for each test condition allowing for estimation of accuracy. Time-weighted average exposure data were collected using solid sorbent tubes (Anasorb 747, SKC Inc.) as the reference sampling medium. Calibration curves of Frog-4000 using the dry gases showed R(2) > 0.99 for all analytes except for toluene (R(2) = 0.97). Frog-4000 estimates within a test condition showed good consistency for the performance of repeated measurement. However, there was approximately 41-64% reduction in the analysis of polar acetone with 75% RH relative to collection at 25% RH. Although Frog-4000 results correlated well with solid sorbent tubes (r = 0.808-0.993, except for toluene) most of the combinations regardless of analyte did not meet the <25% accuracy criterion recommended by NIOSH. The effect of chromatographic co-elution can be seen with m, p-xylene when the results are compared to the sorbent tube sampling technique with GC-flame ionization detector. The results indicated an effect of humidity on the quantification of the polar compounds that might be attributed to the pre-concentrator placed in the selected GC-PID. Further investigation may resolve the humidity effect on sorbent trap with micro GC pre-concentrator when water vapor is present. Although this instrument does not fulfill the accuracy criterion specified in the NIOSH technical report No. 2012-162, it can be used as a screening tool for range finding monitoring with dry gases calibration in the occupational setting rather than compliance monitoring" |
| Keywords: | "Air Pollutants, Occupational/*analysis Chromatography, Gas/*instrumentation Humidity Temperature Volatile Organic Compounds/*analysis Photoionization detector (PID) VOCs portable gas chromatography;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineSoo, Jhy-Charm Lee, Eun Gyung LeBouf, Ryan F Kashon, Michael L Chisholm, William Harper, Martin eng CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/ Evaluation Study Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. England 2018/01/16 J Occup Environ Hyg. 2018 Apr; 15(4):351-360. doi: 10.1080/15459624.2018.1426860" |
