Qualitative analysis of a commercially available phenol—formaldehyde resin, by static and dynamic headspace analysis using a mass-selective detector

Abstract

Static headspace and dynamic headspace procedures for volatile substances in solid matrices were investigated and compared by gas chromatography—mass spectrometry (GC—MS). For this purpose volatile components of a commercially available phenol—formaldehyde resin were analysed by GC—MS, first using the traditional static headspace method. A further study of the method aimed at obtaining a greater concentration, together with increased selectivity and a more reliable structural determination of the volatile substances, led to the use of the dynamic headspace (purge and trap) method. Following the latter method, after enrichment, the trap contents were recovered in solvents with different polarities in order to concentrate selectively the substances contained in the vapours of the resin itself. The solutions obtained were analysed by GC—MS.