Field validation of an active sampling cartridge as a passive sampler for long-term carbonyl monitoring

Abstract

A carbonyl sampler originally designed for the active sampling method (Sep-Pak XPoSure) was used for long-term passive sampling, and its applicability as a passive sampler was examined through field experiments. The uptake rates of passive sampling were determined experimentally from collocated passive and active samplings for various sampling periods. The obtained uptake rates of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acetone were 1.48, 1.23, and 1.08 mL/min, respectively. These uptake rates were consistent for a wide range of the sampling term (12 hr–2 weeks). Uptake rates of each carbonyl were proportional to the diffusion coefficients of each. Therefore, the ratios of diffusion coefficients were used to calculate the uptake rates of carbonyls for which the rates were not determined experimentally. Lower limits of determination were 2.16–17.5 μg/m3 for 2-week sampling. It was confirmed that 2-week monitoring of carbonyl concentrations up to 118–229 μg/m3 was possible. Relative standard deviations of the passive method generated from the repeatability test were 2–12.3% error for five samplings, and the recovery efficiencies were larger than 90%. Thus, the passive sampler was found to be highly suitable for long-term monitoring of carbonyl compounds. © 2004 Air & Waste Management Association.