Abstract
A gas chromatographic identification of trace styrene in air was investigated using Tenax-GC precolumn (60/80 mesh, 16cm×4 mm i.d., glass), alkaline reaction precolumn (10% NaOH on Shimalite W, AW, 60/80 mesh, 8cm×4 mm i.d., glass plus Tenax-GC 60/80 mesh, 8cm×4 mm i.d., glass) and 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (2, 4-DNP) reaction precolumn (2% 2, 4-DNP on glass beads 30/60 mesh, 6 cm×5 mm i.d., glass plus Tenax-GC 60/80 mesh, 16 cm×4 mm i.d., glass). The peaks of styrene, isobutyl butyrate, hexyl formate, isobutyl methacrylate, methyl hexanoate, 2-heptanone and cyclohexanone overlapped, in the following analytical gas chromatographic conditions; stationary phase, SP-1200 +Bentone 34 (5%+1.75%) ; support, Chromosorb W, AW, DMCS 80/100 mesh; glass column, 3 m×3 mm i.d., glass; column temperature, 80°C; carrier gas (nitrogen) flow-rate, 50 ml/min. The peaks of esters have disappeared completely due to the formation of the corresponding alcohols and acids by using the alkaline reaction precolumn, whereas the peaks of carbonyl compounds have also disappeared completely using the 2, 4-DNP reaction precolumn, however the styrene passed through quantitatively these reaction precolumns.
