Determination of high production volume chemicals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in particulate matter by thermal desorption coupled to gas chromatography and mass spectrometry

Identifier:  TFM:1987

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TFM1987

Authors:  Solé Domènech, Laura

Abstract:
High production volume chemicals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are semi-volatile organic compounds which can be adhered to the surface of particulate matter and enter the human bloodstream through its inhalation, leading to health problems. This work studies the viability of thermal desorption for their determination in <10μm particulate matter retained in quartz fibre filters, as opposed to desorption techniques using organic solvents. A direct multi-residue TD-GC-MS method was developed and validated for the determination of HPVCs and PAHs in PM10. The use of TD yielded similar sensitivity to the one obtained with organic solvent desorption techniques, although some of the originally targeted compounds could not be determined.