Spectrophotometric and direct-reading methods for the analysis of gas phase peroxyacetic acid.

A new method for the determination of peroxyacetic acid (PAA) in gas phase samples is described. It is based on the oxidation of ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonate) by PAA with formation of a radical cation which is characterized by four strong absorption maxima between 405 nm and 810 nm. These allow for sensitive spectrophotometric determination of the peracid. The selectivity of the method towards hydrogen peroxide is strongly dependent on the sampling method used. Impinger sampling and sampling based on the use of coated solid sorbents (test tubes) was performed. Limits of detection are 10(-8) mol, limits of quantification are 5 x 10(-8) mol, the linear range consists of 1.5 concentration decades in both cases. Using ABTS-coated test tubes above 1 x 10(-7) mol, direct reading of the results is possible and may be used as rapid screening method for the PAA concentration.

Determination of hydrogen peroxide in workplace air: interferences and method validation.

A dynamic system for the generation of stable hydrogen peroxide test atmospheres was applied to the evaluation of samplers used for the determination of hydrogen peroxide in workplace air. The system is able to generate gas mixtures of between 0.1 and 10 ppm at different combinations of relative humidity (20-80%) and temperature (10-30 degrees C). Gaseous hydrogen peroxide is sampled on glass filters impregnated with Ti(IV) chloride and sulfuric acid and analyzed by UV spectroscopy. An interference was observed due to the acid catalyzed decomposition of peroxyacetic acid to hydrogen peroxide. This was significantly reduced by applying high sample flow rates and by lowering the concentration of sulfuric acid. The performance of the sampler and sources of uncertainties were tested according to the European Standard EN 1076.

Determination of gas phase peroxyacetic acid using pre-column derivatization with organic sulfide reagents and liquid chromatography.

The first selective HPLC methods for the determination of peroxyacetic acid (PAA) in gas phase samples have been developed. PAA reacts with 2-([3-{2-[4-amino-2-(methylsulfanyl)phenyl]- 1-diazenyl}phenyl]sulfonyl)-1-ethanol (ADS) to form the corresponding sulfoxide. Sampling may be performed in impingers using aqueous solutions of the reagent or by test tubes with the reagent coated on a solid sorbent. Sulfide and sulfoxide are separated by means of HPLC and detected at a wavelength of 410 nm. The method is highly selective for PAA in the presence of hydrogen peroxide when sampling in impingers. A 10,000-fold excess of hydrogen peroxide leads to the same peak area compared to PAA. Limit of detection is 10(-8) mol PAA, thus corresponding to PAA concentration of 46 ppb when using a sampling time of 10 min with a flow-rate at 500 ml/min. Another sulfide reagent, methyl-p-tolyl sulfide (MTS) has been used in a similar way with impinger sampling. Major advantages of ADS towards MTS are improved UV-Vis spectroscopic properties and reduced volatility.