Regulated workplace ketones and their interference in the PFBHA method for aldehydes

Ketones are the major positive interferences for an aldehyde dynamic air sampler that consists of 200-mg 20 percent (w/w) O-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine hydrochloride (PFBHA) on Tenax TA contained in a Pyrex tube 7-mm OD, 5-mm ID, and 70-mm in length, that utilizes a personal battery-powered pump at 10-50 mL/min. The ketone O-oxime derivatives were synthesized to allow absolute quantitation of O-oximes formed during sampling. Wet spiking allowed ketone recoveries to be found. Ketone vapors of known concentrations were generated statically in Tedlar gas bags. The O-oximes were desorbed with hexane, and an aliquot injected for gas chromatographic analysis on a nonpolar capillary column with mass spectrometric or electron capture detection. Gas phase recoveries up to 200 ppm-hour loadings exceeded 75 percent at 25 degrees C for chloroacetone, cyclohexanone, diacetone alcohol, diethyl ketone, dipropyl ketone, ethyl butyl ketone, methyl amyl ketone, methyl butyl ketone, 2-methylcyclohexanone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, methyl isopropyl ketone, and methyl propyl ketone. The recoveries for acetophenone, 2-chloroacetophenone, and ethyl amyl ketone were lower than 75 percent, and were caused by steric hindrance. Sampling for both aldehydes and ketones is recommended at 10 mL/min for TLV concentrations.