Evaluation of polyvinyl fluoride as a container material for air pollution samples

Abstract

Data from an oxidant transport study in Ohio and ambient air bag irradiation experiments in St. Louis indicated that polyvinyl fluoride containers may produce sample contamination. Subsequent experiments established that solvent or other manufacturing residues contaminate the film, and that upon irradiation compounds are produced which interfere with the analysis of hydrocarbons commonly found in ambient air. This renders polyvinyl fluoride unsuitable as a photochemical reaction container for air pollution studies. Hydrocarbon samples can be stored in polyvinyl fluoride bags if the bag material has not been exposed to sunlight or artificial light.