A passive sampling-based analytical strategy for the determination of volatile organic compounds in the air of working areas

An analytical methodology based on the use of a polyethylene layflat tube filled with activated carbon and Florisil (ACFL-VERAM) was employed for the passive sampling of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air of working areas of packing industries. VOCs amount in the ACFL-VERAM sampler was directly determined through head-space-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-GC–MS) allowing a direct determination in only 20 min without the need of any previous treatment. Uptake parameters, like sampling rate (RS) and sampler–air partition coefficient (KSA), were determined for every studied VOC from adsorption isotherm data. Additionally, experimental equations have been proposed to predict RS and KSA from the octanol–air partition coefficients reported in the literature. The proposed methodology reaches method detection levels from 0.007 to 0.2 mg m−3 for the studied VOCs.