Reactive adsorbent derivative collection and gas chromatographic determination of chloromethyl methyl ether in air

A method has been developed and validated for the derivatization and collection of chloromethyl methyl ether (CMME) on a reactant-coated solid adsorbent tube. Following sampling, the CMME derivative is desorbed into methanol, cleaned up with aqueous KOH, extracted into hexane, and analyzed by gas chromatography with electron capture detection. Air containing the CMME is pulled through an air sampling tube containing 1.5% potassium 2,4,6-trichlorophenate on modified 120/140 mesh GLC-110 as the adsorbent. A derivative is formed by the reaction: The procedure is designed for industrial hygiene monitoring to give an accurate 4-hour time-weighted-average of the exposure level. Yields were found to be 56±10% (2σ) while recoveries independent of yield were 96±6% (2σ) for CMME concentrations in the range of 6 ppb (v/v) to 900 ppb (v/v) in air. Breakthrough concentrations, humidity and storage effects and other parameters were also investigated.