Analysis of charcoal tube samples for carbon disulfide using a photoionization detector

A gas chromatograph equipped with a photoionization detector was used to detect carbon disulfide eluted from charcoal tubes with acetonitrile. Overall sampling and desorption efficiency for carbon disulfide was found to approach 100 percent when compared to a liquid impingement, colorimetric method. A relative standard deviation of 4.78 percent (sampling plus analysis) was observed when the method was applied to a synthetic test atmosphere of 10 parts per million carbon disulfide. Sensitivity of the proposed method will enable concentrations of 0.10 ppm CS2 to be determined in a 10 liter air sample. The photoionization detector offers several advantages over other detectors, namely ease of operation and greater sensitivity.