Studies using the sorbent Carbopack X for measuring environmental benzene with Perkin–Elmer-type pumped and diffusive samplers

Studies with the sorbent Carbopack X in pumped and diffusive samplers, of the Perkin–Elmer-type, have been carried out in a controlled atmosphere test facility (CATFAC) employed to generate volatile organic compound (VOC) atmospheres. The benzene safe sampling volume for Carbopack X has been measured, using an indirect method, and found to be (5400 ± 740) 1 g−1, suggesting that this sorbent is suitable for long-term pumped sampling. Good agreement in concentration has been obtained between calibrated benzene test atmospheres and values derived from pumped samplers, well within the expected uncertainty for this technique. The 2-week benzene diffusive uptake rate for Carbopack X has been determined to be (1.99 ± 0.18) ng ppm−1 min−1 for environmental applications, and was found to be constant over a wide range of VOC concentrations. The 2-week toluene and o-xylene diffusive uptake rates for this sorbent are also reported, over a more limited range, together with the 2-week benzene, toluene and o-xylene diffusive uptake rates for Chromosorb 106.