Sampling for organic chemicals in workplace atmospheres with porous polymer beads

Porous polymer bead collection columns are frequently used in air pollution measurements. They are also useful for industrial hygiene applications when used with miniature personal pumps. Analytical procedures using this type of collection column are described which use thermal desorption for sample recovery followed by GC or GC/MS analysis. A means is shown to modify a gas chromatograph for this type of analysis. A technique which permits splitting of the collected sample is also described. Precision and accuracy data for recovery of nineteen chemicals are presented. Advantages of porous polymer bead procedures include high sensitivity (the total collected sample is analyzed), ease of sample handling and ability to analyze polar materials not recoverable from charcoal.