Round-robin test organic substances with thermodesorption (Tenax)

The round robin test is offered alternatively with and without sampling. Participants may choose whether they wish to perform sampling for organic substances themselves, or to have the self-conditioned sample carriers supplied to them.

1. Round-robin test with sampling

   Volatile organic substances (VOC)

   A large-scale dynamic test gas stream can be found at the IFA. It is suitable for parallel sampling by up to 12 participants (see figure).

   The concentrations to be measured will lie within the range between 5 to 150 µg/m³. Analysis has to be conducted by gas chromatography by means of thermal desorption to DIN EN ISO 16017-1.

   When: 08/09 May 2012 

   Where: Institut für Arbeitsschutz der Deutschen Gesetzlichen Unfallversicherung (IFA)
   Alte Heerstraße 111
   53757 Sankt Augustin
   Germany

   Concentration range: 5 - 150 µg/m³
   Duration: 2 hours
   Number of test series: 2 (Prior to every series of experiments a blank value sample taken from the pure gas of the dynamic test stream is offered in order for proper blank value adjustment.).

   Selection of VOC (supply source)

   • Alkanes decane, dodecane, pentadecane, heptane, octane
   • Alkohols 2-butoxyethanol, 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, 2-phenoxyethanol, propylenglycol
   • Aromatic hydrocarbons toluene, trimethylbenzenes, o-, m-, p-xylene, ethylbenzene
   • Esters 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethyl acetate, 2-butoxyethyl acetate, n-butyl acetate
   • Ketones and Aldehydes acetophenone, hexanal, octanal,2-butanone
   • Terpenes 3-carene, limonene, α-pinene

   Sampling: active and passive sampling
   Accomodations: Hotels at Sankt Augustin

   Participants will receive a description of the apparatus, and the connections for the sampling devices in particular, in advance.

2. Round-robin test without sampling

   Volatile organic substances (VOC)

   The production of samples for volatile inorganic acids is conducted in parallel to the round-robin test with sampling. The particular feature of this round-robin test is that thermal desorption tubes are employed for loading which must be conditioned by the participants prior to the round-robin test. Each participant (analysis laboratory) submits seven thermal desorption tubes to the IFA. Only personal air samplers are used at the IFA. The sample carrier should not generate a back pressure exceeding 5.0 kPa under the specified conditions. Where internally fabricated sample carriers are used, please supply an adapter (GL14/GL25 threaded connection) for the test gas stream. The samples are loaded by IFA before being returned to the participants.

   Each participant receives a sample kit comprising:

   • Four coated Tenax-TA tubes (three to six individual substances)
   • two tubes for blank value adjustment, removed from the pure gas of the dynamic test stream, before spiking the tubes
   • one uncoated tube.

   The coating concentration lies within a range of 5 to 50µg/m³. The tubes will be loaded with a sampling volume of 2l. Analysis has to be conducted by gas chromatography by means of thermal desorption to DIN EN ISO 16017-1.