Summary
An improved HPLC method was developed for determining the atmospheric concentration of toluene diisocyanate (TDI). 1-(2-pyridyl)-piperazine in toluene was used as reagent absorber solution together with reversed phase chromatography and a simple efficient buffer system (0.1 trifluoroacetic acid - acetonitrile, 85:15%) in an isocratic elution mode. The values for atmospheric TDI concentration obtained with two continuous band-tape monitors were checked using the values from HPLC as reference. Under identical experimental conditions the two instruments (both model 7005) gave readings varying by more than 100%. At low humidity the band-tape values were considerably lower than the HPLC values. At an absolute humidity of 11.7 gH2O/m3 (58% relative humidity) the value from instrument 1, but not instrument 2, agreed with those from HPLC. The values obtained with band-tape divices in the continuous monitoring of TDI concentration in places of work, or epidemiological studies, should be assessed with caution. HPLC offers a useful reference method for monitoring the accuracy of such devices.
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Mazur, G., Baur, X., Pfaller, A. et al. Determination of toluene diisocyanate in air by HPLC and band-tape monitors. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 58, 269–276 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00377884
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00377884