• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.496-513
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• 2004

This study was carried out to evaluate the performance of sampling and analytical methodology used for the measurement of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the ambient air. VOCs were determined by the adsorbent tube sampling and automatic thermal desorption coupled with GC/MSD analysis. Target analytes were 33 compounds including major aromatic compounds such as BTEX, and halogenated compounds. The methodology was investigated with a wide range of different adsorbents which are commercially available and have been frequently adopted for the VOC measurement. A total of 10 adsorbents were tested in this study: 6 carbon-based adsorbents such as Carbotrap, Carbopack B, Carbosieve S-III, Carboxen 1000, Carbotrap C, Activated Charcoal; and 4 polymer-based adsorbents including Tenax, Porapak Q, Chromosorb 102, and Chromosorb 106. The sampling performance was evaluated with respect to the sampling capacity of VOCs with single-adsorbent and multiple-adsorbents methods for standard samples and field samples. As a result, the best adsorbents for single-adsorbent method in the sampling of toxic organic compounds (including benzene, toluene, xylenes etc.) appeared to be Carbotrap, Carbopack B and Tenax TA. On the other hand, Chromosorb 102, Chromosorb 106 and Porapak Q were found to be unsuitable adsorbents for VOC measurement based on thermal desorption method. Multi-adsorbent packings were evaluated with 4 carbon-based adsorbents, which classified by 3 combination sets of double adsorbents and 2 combination sets of triple adsorbents. The results indicated that the most suitable combination for toixc VOC measurements is Carbotrap C with Carbotrap. Multi-sorbents tubes packed with a strong adsorbent such as Carbosieve S-III or Carboxen 1000 were found to be relatively unsuitable for several compounds, not only owing to the effect of migration of adsorbed compounds from weaker adsorbent to stronger adsorbent, but to hydrophobic nature of the adsorbents. Therefore, it should be addressed that selection of a proper adsorbent (or combination of multi sorbents) is extremely important to obtain reliable data for the concentrations of toxic VOCs in indoor and outdoor environments.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2003

This research examined the presence of hazardous materials in chemical workplace field using an integrated chemical/biological monitoring. Chemical workplace field air for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) analysis was collected using a collection tube packed with Tena.x TA adsorbent 400 mg. Workplace field air samples were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Simultaneously, Tradescantia BNL 4430 clone was exposed in situ to monitor hazardous materials in chemical workplace field. GC/MS analysis showed the presence of various VOCs such as trichloroethylene, toluene, ethylbenzene, (m,p,o)-xylenes, styrene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene. The results showed that in situ monitoring of VOCs with the Tradescantia-micronucleus (Trad-MCN) assay gave positive results in chemical workplace field and negative response at outdoor air. In conclusion, inhalation of these field air by workers may affect chronic demage to their health by inducing micronuclei formation in Tradescantia pollen mother cells. The combination of chemical/biological monitoring is very effective to evaluate hazardous materials in workplace field and can be alternatively used for screening hazardous materials.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.265-275
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• 2000

By using thermal desorption/gas chromatograph/flame ionization detector(TD/GC/FID), this study was carried out to evalute an accuracy and a precision on Benzene(B), Toluene(T), o-Xylene(X) analysis in an industrial hygiene laboratory. Limits of detection of TD/GC/FID on B, T, X were showed 13.75ng/sample or less. For the accuracy of the method by concentration levels, overall bias was showed 7.7% as an absolute value, and the pooled coefficient of variation showed 3.51%. For the precision on repeatability of peak area and retention time between within-run and between-run of analytical system, it is showed the results of within-run gave better than those of between-run. Also the accuracy by sorbents(Tenax TA and Chromosorb 106)was evaluated, and the precision on reproducibility between MDHS72 and this study was compared. It is showed it is possible for TD/GC/FID to evaluate accurately B, T, X concentration levels of less than 1ppm at indoor or outdoor of workplaces in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.308-313
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• 1992

Volatile aromatic compounds collected from raw and roasted mugwort (Artemisia asictica nakai) leaves by the Tenax trap and some major volatile compounds were separated and identified by GC-MS. The identified compounds were tested for the antimutagenic and mutagenic activities against aflatoxin B$_1$(AFB$_1$) using their authentic compounds. Six compounds (myrcene, cineole, camphor, caryophyllen, coumarin, and farnesol) showed antimutagenic activities, but 2-pyrrolidine and thujone showed mutagenic activities. 1-Acetylpiperidine formed during roasting mugwort leaves exhibited mutagenic activities. When the mutagens and antimutagens were mixed, the mixture reduced the mutagenicity of AFB$_1$. These results suggested that the extract of mugwort leaves is not mutagenic and so the mugwort leaves might be used as a food and as medicinal sources without mutagenicity.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.488-497
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• 2009

In this study, analytical methodology for several organic fatty acids (OFA: propionic acid (PA), butyric acid (BA), isovaleric acid (IA), and valeric acid (VA)) designated as new offensive odorants in Korea (as of year 2010) was investigated along with some odorous VOCs (styrene, toluene, xylene, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, butyl acetate, and isobutyl alcohol). For this purpose, working standards (WS) containing all of these 13 compounds were loaded into adsorption tube filled with Tenax TA, and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) system thermal desorber interfaced with. The analytical sensitivities of organic fatty acids expressed in terms of detection limit (both in absolute mass (ng) and concentration (ppb)) were lower by 1.5-2 times than other compounds (PA: 0.24 ng (0.16 ppb), BA: 0.19 ng (0.11 ppb), IA: 0.15 ng (0.07 ppb), and VA: 0.28 ng (0.13 ppb)). The precision of BA, IA, and VA, if assessed in terms of relative standard error (RSE), maintained above 5%, while the precison of other compounds were below 5%. The reproducibility of analysis improved with the aid of internal standard calibration (PA: $1.1{\pm}0.4%$, BA: $10{\pm}0.46$, IA; $12{\pm}0.3%$, VA: $4{\pm}0.1%$), respectively. The results of this study showed that organic fatty acid can be analyzed using adsorption tube and thermal desorber in a more reliable way to replace alkali absorption method introduced in the odor prevention law of the Korea Ministry of Environment (KMOE).

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.244-252
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• 2010

The objective of this study is to assess feasibility of simultaneous analysis for trace multi-components odorous and volatile organic compounds using a Triple-bed adsorbent tube with a thermal desorber and GC-MS. Triple-bed adsorbent tube is 3 bed packed Tenax-TA with small amount of Carbopack B and Carbosieve SIII in order of adsorption strength in a tube. The operating conditions of GC-MS was possibly able to and effectively detect high volatile and low molecular weight compounds at the mass range of 20~350 m/z using a below impurity 1ppm of Helium carrier gas, of which quantitatively analyzed by target ion extracts. According to the experiment, $C_1{\sim}C_5$ of 14 components; sulfur containing compounds(2), ketones(2), alcohols(4) and aldehydes(6) were simultaneously analyzed with recoveries of 99%, and good repeatability and linearity. High volatile and low molecular weight compounds such as methyl alcohol and acetaldehyde can be safely quantified with high recovery at a condition of 50mL/min of flow rate, below 2L of adsorption volume, and 45% of relative humidity. Target ion extract can also simultaneously quantify multicomponents with odorous and volatile organic compounds in an occasion of piled up two peaks.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.222-228
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• 2013

Objectives: The indoor air quality of newly-built (NC) and remodeled (RC) school classrooms was assessed. The primary aim was to show correlations between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde (HCHO) pollutant levels. Methods: This study investigated the indoor air concentrations of VOCs and HCHO at 26 sites of newly built and 68 sites of remodeled classrooms located in South Gyeongsang Province between 2010 and 2012. VOCs in the indoor air were determined by adsorbent tube (Tenax TA) and automatic thermal desorption coupled with GC-MS analysis. Target analytes were five VOCs: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene. HCHO was collected with a 2,4-DNPH cartridge and analyzed by HPLC. Conclusions: This study estimated that indoor VOCs and HCHO concentrations in the classrooms were mainly affected by interior building materials and classroom equipment. For proper indoor air quality in schools, classroom air should be improved through reduction of hazardous materials by adequate ventilation, selecting environmental friendly materials, etc.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.515-525
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• 2002

A field study was conducted to estimate the emission rate of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) from pine trees. In addition, the influences of meteological variables on their distribution characteristics have been investigated. A vegetation enclosure chamber was designed and constructed of Tedlar bag and acril. Sorbent tubes made up of Tenax TA and Carbotrap were used to collect biogenic VOCs emitted from each individual tree. Analysis of BVOCs was performed using a GC-FID system. The fundamental analytical parameters including linearity, retention time, recovery efficiency, and breakthrough volume were examined and verified for the determination of monoterpene emission rates. Total average concentration of each component is found to be $\alpha$-pinene (16.5), $\beta$-pinene (4.61) from pine trees, and $\alpha$-pinene (42.4), $\beta$-pinene (18.7 ng(gdw)$^{-1}$ hr$^{-1}$ ) from Korean pine trees. On the basis of our study, $\alpha$-pinene was found to be the major monoterpene emitted from both pine and Korean pine trees which were accompanied by $\beta$-pinene, camphene, and limonene. In ambient air, variable monoterpene compositions of emissions from pine trees were similar to Korean pine trees. Emission rates of monoterpene from each tree were found to depend on such parameters as temperature and solar radiation.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.2675-2679
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• 2009

This paper reports the example of headspace mulberry paper bag micro solid phase extraction (HS-MPB-$\mu$-SPE) as a new sampling method for the determination of volatile flavor composition of coriander seeds. Adsorption efficiencies between two configurations of mulberry paper bag were compared, and several parameters affecting the HS-MPB-$\mu$-SPE were investigated and optimized. The optimized technique uses an adsorbent (Tenax TA, 0.1 mg) contained in a mulberry paper bag of front configuration where fine surface was outside, and minimal amount of organic solvent (0.6 mL). Linalool and $\gamma$-terpinene were found as abundant flavor compounds from coriander seeds. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) for linalool of major flavor in coriander seeds were 10.3 ng/mL and 34.4 ng/mL, respectively. The proposed method showed good reproducibility and good recovery. The HS-MPB-$\mu$-SPE is very simple to use, inexpensive, requires small sample amounts and solvent consumption. Because the solvent for extraction is reduced to only a very small volume, there is minimal waste or exposure to toxic organic solvent and no further concentration step.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.572-577
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• 2006

The physiochemical interactions of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and adsorbing agents can be described using a very powerful tool, inverse gas chromatography (IGC). Sorption behavior of 1-MCP on various adsorbing agents was assessed using the profile peaks of 1-MCP at an infinite dilution concentration using the IGC technique. Chromatogram peaks of 1-MCP adsorption were not observed for the adsorbing agent activated carbon. The forms of sorption isotherms followed Henry's law, and behaved according to the binding site theory. Specific retention volume and distribution coefficients for 1-MCP on the adsorbing agents were determined at 50, 60, 70, and $80^{\circ}C$, respectively. Silica gel had a much higher number of binding sites for 1-MCP compared to Tenax-TA and activated clay agents. Meanwhile, activated carbon proved to be a very strong binding agent for 1-MCP based on 1-MCP efficiency experiments on the selected adsorbing agents. However, as a proper means of delivering 1-MCP molecules to fresh food products, activated carbon is not fit for the binding and release of 1-MCP gas under dry or high humidity conditions because activated carbon has a strong affinity for 1-MCP, even when treated with distilled water.