Simultaneous determination of semivolatile organic compounds in indoor air by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry after solid-phase extraction

A method is described for simultaneous determination of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in indoor air by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The selected 73 SVOCs were collected using combined adsorbents (quartz fiber filter disk and Empore disk) for 24 h at a 5.0 l/min flow rate. The SVOCs collected were extracted with acetone, concentrated, then analyzed by an internal standard method. Forty compounds (19 plasticizers and flame retardants; 19 insecticides; 1 synergist; and 1 fungicide) among the target SVOCs were determined accurately and precisely. The method of detection limits for these compounds were approximately 0.5 ng/m3 for most of the SVOCs. The collected SVOC samples could be stored for up to 1 month at 4 °C in the refrigerator.