Collection of two-ring aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated phenols, guaiacols, and benzenes from ambient air using polyurethane foam/Tenax-GC cartridges

Abstract Two-ring aromatic hydrocarbons and chlorinated phenols, guaiacols, and benzenes and were measured in ambient air at three locations using a high volume air sampler equipped with a glass fiber filter followed by a polyurethane foam/Tenax-GC (PUF-TX) sandwich cartridge. Isotopically-labeled surrogate compounds were spiked on to the front of the cartridge before sampling to assess collection efficiency in the field. Surrogate recoveries from ten sample extracts averaged 87 ± 19% for 2,4-dichlorophenol-d 3 ; 111 ± 26% for pentachlorophenol- 13 C 6 ; 40 ± 22% for naphthalene-d 8 ; and 75 ± 18% for biphenyl-d 10 . With the exception of the most volatile surrogate, naphthalene-d 8 , collection efficiency of the PUF-TX traps was acceptable. The highest average concentrations at all three locations were observed for the aromatic hydrocarbons followed by the chlorinated benzenes, chlorinated phenols and the chlorinated guaiacols. This technique allows for ambient monitoring of these more volatile compound classes with commercially available high volume air sampling equipment.