Evaluation of a new ammonia sampling and analytical procedure

A new monitoring procedure is described for the collection of ammonia in the workplace environment. Sampling is conducted using air sampling tubes packed with beaded activated carbon coated with sulfuric acid. The low cationic background of this packing permits the analysis of samples to be performed by ion chromatography, a technique which offers considerable advantage over current methods used to analyze industrial hygiene samples for ammonia. Excellent precision and accuracy are demonstrated on samples collected from atmospheres containing 0.5, 1 and 2 times TLV levels of ammonia. The analytical detection limit is such that a concentration 0.05 of TLV may be detected in a 3-L air sample with less than one percent breakthrough found in a 24-L sample at TLV.