Analysis MethodDetermination of residual (free) monomer in water based polymer emulsions by head space gas chromatography mass spectrometry

A method for determination of residual acrylonitrile, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, butyl methacrylate, 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate, styrene and 2-methyl styrene monomers in polymer emulsions by head space gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Monomers were separated on DB-624 column and detected by MS under SIM (Selected ion monitoring) mode. The linear regression analysis data for the calibration curve for all monomers showed a good linear relationship with a regression coefficient of 0.99 over the concentration range of 5.3 mg/kg to 1172 mg/kg. The limit of detection and limit of quantification for the target analytes were in the range from 0.4 to 2.9 mg/kg and 0.9 to 7.3 mg/kg respectively.