RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To establish a method for simultaneous determination of 15 kinds of vapor state organic acids in workplace air by solvent desorption-gas chromatography.METHODS: A total 15 kinds of vapor state organic acids such as acetic acid, propanoic acid, butyric acid and pentanoic acid in the air of workplace were collected by silica gel, eluted with acetone, separated by DB-FFAP capillary chromatograph column, and detected by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. RESULTS: There was a good linear relationship in the selected range of 15 kinds of organic acids. The coefficient correlation was 0.999 97-0.999 98. The limit of detection of this method was 0.04-0.29 mg/L, and the minimum detection concentration was 0.03-0.19 mg/m~(3 )(collected sample volume was 1.50 L). The average desorption efficiency was 92.9%-98.5%. The within-run and between-run relative standard deviation was 0.3%-1.6% and 1.5%-3.0%, respectively. The samples could be kept for at least 15 days at room temperature. CONCLUSION: The method is simple for operation, with high sensitivity, and good precision, which is suitable for simultaneous determination of 15 kinds of vapor state organic acids in the air of workplace and sites of emergency accident.