Mineral acids in workplace air

Status:

completed 01/1995

Aims:

Hydrochloric acid (HCI), hydrobromic acid (HBr), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), nictric acid (HNO3) and phosphoric acid (H3PO4) are mineral acids produced in large quantities and used for a variety of tasks. It is possible to determine all anions simultaneously by means of ion chromatography. This traditional method used for individual substances is to be replaced by a new method, allowing for the parallel analysis of all above mentioned mineral acids. Such a method was developed.

Activities/Methods:

Acids occurring in particulate form are separated on a filter. Gaseous acids are collected on a silica gel matrix. After elution with an alkaline solution, separation is carried out by ion chromatography with suppression and conductivity detection. A parallel UV-detection is possible for nitrate and bromide which are UV-active anions.

Results:

Two methods for measuring mineral acids in the workplace atmosphere were developed: a method to determine vaporous acids (HCI, HBr and HNO3) and another one to determine particulate acids (H2SO4 and H3PO4). A combination of the methods is impossible. Both methods are used for standard analysis within the measuring system for hazardous substances (BGMG) run by the German Berufsgenossenschaften.

Further informations:

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