Continuous determination of high-vapor-phase concentrations of tetrachloroethylene using on-line mass spectrometry

A method was developed to determine the vapor concentration of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) at and below its equilibrium vapor-phase concentration, 168 000 microg/L (25 degrees C). Vapor samples were drawn by vacuum into a six-port sampling valve and injected through a jet separator into an ion trap mass spectrometer (MS). This on-line MS can continuously sample a vapor stream and provide vapor concentrations every 30 s. Calibration of the instrument was done by creating a saturated stream of PCE vapor, sampling the vapor with the on-line MS and with thermal desorption tubes, and correlating the peak area response from the MS with the vapor concentration determined by automated thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Dilution of the saturated stream provided lower concentrations of PCE vapor. The method was developed to monitor the vapor concentration of PCE that was sparged from a two-dimensional flow chamber and for determination of the total PCE mass removed during each sparge event. The method has potential application for analysis of gas-phase tracers.