A passive sampling-based analytical strategy for the determination of volatile organic compounds in the air of working areas

Abstract

An analytical methodology based on the use of a polyethylene layflat tube filled with activated carbon and Florisil (ACFL-VERAM) was employed for the passive sampling of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air of working areas of packing industries. VOCs amount in the ACFL-VERAM sampler was directly determined through head-space-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-GC–MS) allowing a direct determination in only 20 min without the need of any previous treatment. Uptake parameters, like sampling rate ( R S) and sampler–air partition coefficient ( K SA), were determined for every studied VOC from adsorption isotherm data. Additionally, experimental equations have been proposed to predict R S and K SA from the octanol–air partition coefficients reported in the literature. The proposed methodology reaches method detection levels from 0.007 to 0.2 mg m −3 for the studied VOCs.