Minimization of water vapor interference in the analysis of non-methane volatile organic compounds by solid adsorbent sampling

Water vapor can be a significant interference in the analysis of air for non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) using solid-adsorbent sampling techniques. The adsorbent materials used in sampling cartridges have different hydrophobic characteristics, and it is therefore necessary to characterize solid-adsorbent cartridges over a wide range of humidity. Controlled humidity experiments were performed to assess the extent of water vapor interference when samples are collected onto AirToxics solid-adsorbent cartridges. It was found that elevating the temperature of the cartridge to 10 °C above the temperature of the air sample greatly reduced water vapor adsorption and interferences and resulted in ≥90% recovery of NMVOCs, biogenic VOCs and chlorofluorocarbons. Similar collection efficiencies were obtained at ambient temperature by reducing the relative humidity to ≤60% in the sample by dilution with dry, scrubbed ambient air. A procedure also was developed and optimized for dry-purging cartridges prior to analysis. However, under optimized conditions, significant losses of C3–C5 compounds still occurred under highly humid conditions. It was determined that these losses were due to reduced retention during sampling rather than loss during the dry purge procedure. The dry purge method was shown to be adequate at high humidities for sampling NMVOCs with retention indices greater than 500.