Novel multi-sorbent for sampling and determination of trace volatile organic sulfur compounds in ambient air

Abstract

Novel adsorbent APSG-MW (average particle size 215 µm and specific surface 98 m² g⁻¹) bonding multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on silica gel are obtained. Then the sampling tubes filled with Tenax TA and APSG-MW are prepared and the adsorptive capacity of Tenax TA/APSG-MW for volatile organic sulfur compounds (VOSCs) is studied. The data show that the adsorption and desorption recoveries of multi-sorbent for VOSCs are satisfactory (>85%), and the breakthrough values are large (>16 L g⁻¹) enough to absorb VOSCs in ambient air. The sampling precision of the sorbent tubes meets TO-17 criteria. The sampling tubes are successfully used to concentrate and analyze a sample of landfill air, and the major S compounds are identified.

Keywords:

• multi-walled carbon nanotubes
• Tenax TA
• volatile organic sulfur compounds (VOSCs), multi-sorbent sampling

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of the People's Republic of China (No. 2087708), the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in Universty (NCET-09-0218), and the Critical Patented Projects in the Control and Management of the National Polluted Water Bodies (No. 2009ZX07210-009).