Loop System for Creating Jet Fuel Vapor Standards Used in the Calibration of Infrared Spectrophotometers and Gas Chromatographs

Abstract

A whole body inhalation study of mixed jet fuel vapor and its aerosol necessitated the development of a method for preparing vapor only standards from the neat fuel. Jet fuel is a complex mixture of components which partitions between aerosol and vapor when aspirated based on relative volatility of the individual compounds. A method was desired which could separate the vapor portion from the aerosol component to prepare standards for the calibration of infrared spectrophotometers and a head space gas chromatography system. A re-circulating loop system was developed which provided vapor only standards whose composition matched those seen in an exposure system. Comparisons of nominal concentrations in the exposure system to those determined by infrared spectrophotometry were in 92–95% agreement. Comparison of jet fuel vapor concentrations determined by infrared spectrophotometry compared to head space gas chromatography yielded a 93% overall agreement in trial runs. These levels of agreement show the loop system to be a viable method for creating jet fuel vapor standards for calibrating instruments.

KEYWORDS:

• Chromatography
• Complex mixtures
• Head space analysis
• Infrared spectrophotometry
• Inhalation
• Jet fuel

This work was supported by Defense Health Programs (DHP) reimbursable Work Unit # 60768. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. This article is approved for public release, distribution unlimited.

The Experiments reported here were conducted according to the principles set forth in the ‘Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals’, Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Research Council, DHHS, Publication No (NIH) 86-23 (1996). All procedures involving live animals were approved by the WPAFB Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) as protocol number F-WA-2005–0086.

I (Commander Chapman) am a military service member (or employee of the US Government). This work was prepared as part of my official duties. Title 17 U.S.C. §105 provides that ‘Copyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government’. Title 17 U.S.C. §101 defines a US Government work as a work prepared by a military service member or employee of the US Government as part of that person's official duties.