Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds Enrichment and Analysis

Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds Enrichment and Analysis 

Bogustew Buszewski, Tomasz Ligor, and Agnieszka Ulanowska 

Chair of Environmental Chemistry Bioanalytics, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland e-mail bhusz chem.umk.pl 

The choice of an appropriate measurement technique (e.g., chromatographic separation) depends on the physicochemical properties of the analyte (Fig. 14.1). According to the Giger definition, apart from molecular mass, chemical character, and polarity, the volatility of analytes must also be considered [1]. This factor determines the applicability of GC for the final determination of analytes of molecular masses up to 1000 Da and high vapor pressure. 

Some VOCs are toxic and carcinogenic. Two main sources of VOCs can be distinguished natural and anthropogenic. Natural sources are the vegetation processes of certain organisms, assimilation processes, forest fires, volcanic or geyser activity, and natural gas release (ca. 30-60 million tons per year). Anthropogenic 

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A new technique, which is applicable for sampling in air and liquids or in the headspace above a liquid or a solid sample, is solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME). The mechanism of SPME, which has been developed by Pawliszyn et al. 1225], [226], is based on the partition equilibrium of the analytes between the sample or the head-space above the sample, respectively, and a fused silica fiber coated with a suitable stationary phase. The amount of analyte extracted by the fiber is proportional to the initial analyte concentration in the sample and depends on the type of fiber. After sampling, the fiber can be thermally desorbed directly into the injector of a gas chromatograph. SPME combines sampling, analyte enrichment, matrix separation, and sample introduction within one step [226]. Since its development, this innovative technique has found widespread use in environmental analysis. It has, for example, been applied in the determination of volatile organic compounds [227], 228]. phenols [229],... 

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