We have developed a GC system with a PID/FID in-series that will concentrate an ambient air sample so that low ppb or even ppt levels of VOCs in ambient air can be detected. We have shown that the PID (10.6 EV) has a response that increases with the number of double bonds while the FID does not have the same dependence. All these structures have the same response for the FID. This feature can be utilized to identify alkanes, alkene’s and aromatic hydrocarbons in a concentrated ambient air sample. Using a capillary column, the PID /FID ratios were 15 (alkanes), 30 (alkenes) and 75 (aromatics) respectively. This technique is more sensitive, simpler, easier to maintain and, of course, less expensive than a continuous GC/MS system for ambient air measurements.<br/>

Analysis and identification of ppb levels of VOC’s in ambient air via GC-PID-FID

256th National Meeting (2018)

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