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Feasibility of preparing and analyzing gas standards containing heavy hydrocarbons (C10–C16)

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Abstract

State and federal agencies are beginning to monitor ambient air for compounds related to diesel exhaust. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) was asked to develop standards containing heavy (C10–C16) alkanes which could then be used in air monitoring and exhaust studies. Several primary gravimetric standards, containing heavy (C10–C16) alkanes in nitrogen, were developed and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) with flame-ionization detection (FID). The results of this research indicate that accurate gas standards containing these hydrocarbons can be prepared. However, the analytical results show that the temperature of the transfer system from the gas cylinder to the GC column (including the gas-sample valve) must be heated in order to prevent adsorption of these compounds within the analytical system. The results indicate that even at elevated temperatures these compounds are being absorbed within the system. The results show that quantitative results cannot be obtained by using one compound such as hexane, as an internal standard to determine the concentration of other hydrocarbons. Quantitative and accurate results are best obtained if standards for each hydrocarbon of interest are used to determine concentrations of unknowns for the respective hydrocarbon.

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Notes

  1. Certain commercial equipment, instruments, or materials are identified in this paper to adequately specify the experimental procedure. Such identification does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor does it imply that the materials or equipment identified are necessarily the best available for the purpose.

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Acknowledgements

The author wishes to acknowledge the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) for the partial support provided for this research and development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Analytical Chemistry Division, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899-8393,, USA

    George C. Rhoderick

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  1. George C. Rhoderick
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Correspondence to George C. Rhoderick.

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Rhoderick, G.C. Feasibility of preparing and analyzing gas standards containing heavy hydrocarbons (C10–C16). Anal Bioanal Chem 385, 866–874 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-006-0494-2

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