Applicability of a novel carbon sorbent for the preconcentration of volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons

Porous carbon sorbent prepared by pyrolysis of saccharose in the presence of silica gel was tested for the preconcentration of chlorinated derivatives of methane, ethane, ethylene and propane in air, particularly in emissions. The trapped components were desorbed by a liquid (carbon disulphide and n-pentane) and measured by high resolution capillary gas chromatography with on-column, splitless injection and flame ionization (FID) and electron capture (ECD) detection. The linearity range of the used detector was studied in the concentration range 10 pg-20 ng μl−1 for ECD and 1–100 ng μl−1 for FID as well as the limits of determination in absolute amounts (for studied components and FID from 103 to 454 pg; for ECD 0.05–127.2 pg) and in concentrations (for FID 3.4–15.1 μg m−3; for ECD 1.5–4240.0 ng m−3).