Investigation of charcoal cloth as a sorbent for integrated sampling of solvent vapors in mixed-expired breath using a new stainless steel sampler. 1989

R A Glaser, and J E Arnold
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Cincinnati, OH 45226.

A stainless steel device for integrated sampling of solvents present in mixed-expired breath is described. During sampling, the subject inhales breathing air through commercial charcoal inhalation canisters. Exhaled breath is sampled from the mainstream using 45-mm wafers of charcoal cloth or from the sidestream on other sorbents. The device concentrates trace contaminants present in large volumes of breath. The charcoal cloth sorbent was evaluated for sampling and analysis of m-xylene and 1,1,1-trichloroethane under simulated physiological conditions. These samples were collected from atmospheres of either analyte generated at 35 degrees-40 degrees C and 80%-90% relative humidity to simulate an exhaled breath sample matrix. Concentrations sampled ranged from 2.2 to 190 mg/m3 for 1,1,1-trichloroethane and from 0.44 to 35.6 mg/m3 for m-xylene. Volumes sampled ranged from 10 to 50 L. The m-xylene samples were collected using a 3-wafer front and a 2-wafer backup bed of charcoal cloth; 1,1,1-trichloroethane samples were collected using a 10-wafer front and a 1-wafer backup bed. All samples were desorbed in carbon disulfide and analyzed via gas chromatography using a flame ionization detector. The volume of desorption solvent ranged from 1.7 to 2.5 mL per wafer of cloth. The quantitation limit is estimated to be 2.0 micrograms/L for 1,1,1-trichloroethane and 0.4 micrograms/L m-xylene for a 50-L sample. At least 80% recovery was obtained for m-xylene or 1,1,1-trichloroethane samples stored from 1 to 14 days after collection, if the samples were refrigerated at 0 degrees C after an initial 7-day storage period at room temperature. The recovery of hexane, 1-hexene, ethyl acetate, isopropanol, methylene chloride, and methyl isobutyl ketone from the charcoal cloth also has been investigated and is reported. With the exception of isopropanol, all analytes were recovered quantitatively from the charcoal cloth by desorption with carbon disulfide following storage for 1 to 17 days at ambient temperatures.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D001944 Breath Tests Any tests done on exhaled air. Breathalyzer Tests,Breath Test,Breathalyzer Test,Test, Breath,Test, Breathalyzer,Tests, Breath,Tests, Breathalyzer
D002138 Calibration Determination, by measurement or comparison with a standard, of the correct value of each scale reading on a meter or other measuring instrument; or determination of the settings of a control device that correspond to particular values of voltage, current, frequency or other output. Calibrations
D002606 Charcoal An amorphous form of carbon prepared from the incomplete combustion of animal or vegetable matter, e.g., wood. The activated form of charcoal is used in the treatment of poisoning. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed) Activated Charcoal,Actidose,Actidose-Aqua,Adsorba,Carbomix,Charbon,CharcoAid,CharcoCaps,Charcodote,Formocarbine,Insta-Char,Kohle-Compretten,Kohle-Hevert,Kohle-Pulvis,Kohle-Tabletten Boxo-Pharm,Liqui-Char,Norit,Ultracarbon,Charcoal, Activated
D004867 Equipment Design Methods and patterns of fabricating machines and related hardware. Design, Equipment,Device Design,Medical Device Design,Design, Medical Device,Designs, Medical Device,Device Design, Medical,Device Designs, Medical,Medical Device Designs,Design, Device,Designs, Device,Designs, Equipment,Device Designs,Equipment Designs
D005410 Flame Ionization Pyrolysis of organic compounds at the temperature of a hydrogen-air flame to produce ionic intermediates which can be collected and the resulting ion current measured by gas chromatography. Flame Ionizations,Ionization, Flame,Ionizations, Flame
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012997 Solvents Liquids that dissolve other substances (solutes), generally solids, without any change in chemical composition, as, water containing sugar. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed) Solvent
D013193 Stainless Steel Stainless steel. A steel containing Ni, Cr, or both. It does not tarnish on exposure and is used in corrosive environments. (Grant & Hack's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed) Stainless Steels,Steel, Stainless,Steels, Stainless

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