Total Volatile Organics in Air (Charcoal Tube)

Technique:
GC/FID

Reference method:
USEPA FM/04

Scope:
The method can be used for the analysis of the total volatile component of air that can be trapped on a charcoal tube and subsequently chemically desorbed in the laboratory.

Limit of Detection:
The method detection limit for this method is 2.5mg/ml of extract.
If one litre of air is pumped onto a tube this equates to 5mg/l of air.
If ten litres of air are sampled this equates to 0.5mg/l of air.

Sample required:
Required sampling volume is entirely dependent on the concentration of organics present and the required detection limit. However, it is likely that inaccuracies will result when sample volumes are lower than 200ml.
Flow rate: The recommended flow rate for sampling is 100 – 200 ml/min

Container:
Sealed charcoal tubes (known mass of adsorbent), end caps for return.