ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To establish a solvent desorption-gas chromatography method for determination of methyl pentane in workplace air. METHODS: Methyl pentane in workplace air was collected with activated carbon tube and desorbed with carbon disulfide, then separated by DB-1 capillary column, detected by flame ionization detector, and quantified by standard curve method. RESULTS: Good linearity was obtained in the range of 1.98-6 600.00 mg/L with the correlation coefficient of 0.999 9. The minimum detection limit and the minimum quantification limit were 0.06 and 0.20 mg/L, respectively. The minimum detection concentration and minimum quantification concentration was 0.04 and 0.14 mg/m~3, respectively(calculated by collecting 1.5 L of air sample). The average desorption efficiency was 97.3%-102.2%. The within-run relative standard deviation(RSD) and the between-run RSD were 0.4%-0.9% and 0.3%-3.0%, respectively. The sampling efficiency was 96.7%-100.0% and the penetration capacity was 8.68 mg. The samples can be stored at room temperature for at least 14 days. CONCLUSION: This method is suitable for methyl pentane detection in workplace air.