OBJECTIVETo establish a gas chromatography method for determination of methyl propyl ketone in the air of workplace.

METHODSMethyl propyl ketone in the air of workplace was collected with activated carbon tubes and desorbed with carbon disulfide before sample loading. The target toxicant was separated with the capillary column and detected with a hydrogen flame ionization detector, identified by retention time, and quantified by peak area.

RESULTSThe linear range of methyl propyl ketone in the air of workplace was 202.5∼4 860.0 µg/ml, with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 98. The limit of detection was 1.5 µg/ml. The lower limit of quantification was 5.0 µg/ml. The minimum detectable concentration was 1.0 mg/m(3) under 1.5 L sampling volume and 1.0 ml desorption solution volume. The relative standard deviation of different methyl propyl ketone concentrations was 1.42%∼1.65%, and the recovery rate was 94.9%∼ 97.9%.

CONCLUSIONThis method has high sensitivity, precision, and accuracy, and it is applicable for determination of methyl propyl ketone in the air of workplace.

Air ; analysis ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Carbon Disulfide ; Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Pentanones ; analysis ; Workplace