Innovative cryogen-free ambient air monitoring in compliance with US EPA Method TO-15

Monitoring chemicals in ambient air is necessary to determine the effect they have on human health, the environment and global climate. This has driven the development of national and international regulations, in response to increased concern over potentially hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ambient (primarily urban) air, industrial emissions and landfill gas.

This application note describes the GC–MS analysis of humidified canister ‘air toxics’ samples at various relative humidities, using cryogen-free systems for thermal desorption preconcentration.

Detection of 65 target compounds ranging in volatility from propene to naphthalene is demonstrated with excellent peak shape and performance well within the criteria set out in US EPA Method TO-15, including method detection limits as low as 4 pptv.