« Previous AbstractUrban flux measurements reveal a large pool of oxygenated volatile organic compound emissions    Next AbstractPheromones': a new term for a class of biologically active substances »

Anal Chem

Title:		"Simultaneous quantitative determination of benzene, toluene, and xylenes in water using mid-infrared evanescent field spectroscopy"
Author(s):		Karlowatz M; Kraft M; Mizaikoff B;
Address:		"School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0400, USA"
Journal Title:		Anal Chem
Year:		2004
Volume:		76
Issue:		9
Page Number:		2643 - 2648
DOI:		10.1021/ac0347009
ISSN/ISBN:		0003-2700 (Print) 0003-2700 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Attenuated total reflection mid-infrared spectroscopy is applied for simultaneous detection and quantification of the environmentally relevant analytes benzene, toluene, and the three xylene isomers. The analytes are enriched into a thin polymer membrane coated onto the surface of an internal reflection waveguide, which is exposed to the aqueous sample. Direct detection of analytes permeating into the polymer coating is performed by utilizing evanescent field spectroscopy in the fingerprint range (>10 microm) of the mid-infrared (MIR) spectrum (3-20 microm) without additional sample preparation. All investigated compounds are characterized by well-separated absorption features in the evaluated wavelength regime. Hence, data evaluation was performed by integration of the respective absorption peaks. Limits of detection lower than 20 ppb (v/v) for all xylene isomers, 45 ppb (v/v) for benzene, and 80 ppb (v/v) for toluene have been achieved. The straightforward experimental setup and the achieved detection limits for these environmentally relevant volatile organic compounds in the low-ppb concentration range reveal a substantial potential of MIR evanescent field sensing devices for on-line in situ environmental analysis"
Keywords:		"Benzene/*analysis/chemistry Calibration Sensitivity and Specificity Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared/instrumentation/*methods Toluene/*analysis/chemistry Water/*chemistry Xylenes/*analysis/chemistry;"
Notes:		"MedlineKarlowatz, M Kraft, M Mizaikoff, B eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 2004/05/01 Anal Chem. 2004 May 1; 76(9):2643-8. doi: 10.1021/ac0347009"