ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore an improved method for determination of cyclohexane and methylcyclohexane in workplace air by solvent desorption-gas chromatography. METHODS: Cyclohexane and methylcyclohexane in workplace air were collected by activated carbon tubes,desorbed with carbon disulfide,separated by DB-1 capillary chromatography column,detected by flame ionization detector and quantified using the standard calibration curves. RESULTS: The linear range of the concentration of cyclohexane and methylcyclohexane were 1. 0-1 402. 2 and 0. 8-1 999. 4 mg / L respectively.Both the correlation coefficients were 0. 999 9. Both the detection limits were 0. 3 mg / L. The limits of quantification were1. 0 and 0. 8 mg / L respectively. Both the minimum detectable concentrations were 0. 2 mg / m3. The minimum quantitative mass concentrations of cyclohexane and methylcyclohexane were 0. 7 and 0. 6 mg / m3respectively( sample volume was 1. 5L). The average desorption efficiencies were 98. 5%-99. 3% and 97. 6%-99. 0% respectively. The relative standard deviations( RSD) of within-run precision were 0. 36%-0. 59% and 0. 34%-0. 50% respectively. The RSD of between-run precision were 0. 89%-2. 04% and 0. 87%-2. 22% respectively. The samples could be stored for up to 7 days at room temperature. CONCLUSION: This method has features of simple operation,high sensitivity and good precision,which is suitable for simultaneous determination of cyclohexane and methylcyclohexane in workplace air.