• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.16-28
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• 1991

A study on comparison of standard charcoal tube method, infrared gas analyzer, and detector tube method were conducted. Measurements were performed simultaneously at same sampling points in an air chamber containing benzene, toluene and xylene vapors. Charcoal tube samles were collected at sampling flowrates of 0.05, 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 1pm. Results are as follows : 1. Coefficients of variation of results with charcoal tube method for bezene, toluene and xylene mixture vapor were 14.34 % in benzene(0.28-11.12 ppm), 9.20 % in toluene (2.68-135.09 ppm) and 10.21 % in xylene (2.56-82.64 ppm), respectively. 2. Results of infrared gas analyzer in mixture air were non-specific on benzene and toluene. Ratio of results of infrared gas analyzer to those of charcoal tube on benzene, toluene and xylene were 696.4 %, 30.3 % and 36.6 %, respectively. 3. Ratio of responses of detector tubes to those of charcoal tube were 49.4 % in benzene, 22.1 % in toluene and 223.9 % in xylene. Xylene detector tube were interfered by toluene greately. 4. Collection efficiencies of charcoal tubes at low concentraton(benzene : 1 ppm, toluene : 10 ppm, xylene : 10 ppm) were stable on various flowrate from 0.05 to 1.0 1pm, but at high concentrations the efficiency decreased at high flowrate above 0.5 1pm. 5. Within the saturation capacity of charcoal, collection effiency decreased at 0.5-1.0 1pm. Smpling feowrates of 0.05-0.20 1pm were appropriate for sampling organic vapors.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.193-198
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• 1983

In the determination of organic solvents in workplaces direct reading tube method have been used in Korea for decades. But this method is less accurate and couldn't measure TWA(Time Weighted Average) for 8 hours. Authors tried to detect Toluene concentration in S factory by using charcoal tube according to NIOSH method. The concentration was 158.8ppm. We propose this charcoal tube method should be substituted to get accurate results and to protect employee in workplaces related with solvents.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.261-269
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• 2005

To investigate the field applicability of a diffusive sampler (3M OVM #3500, passive sampling method) authors conducted a simultaneous measurement of personal organic solvents exposure in the air of the workplaces by charcoal tube with low volume sampler (active sampling method) and diffusive sampler. Samples were collected and analyzed by NIOSH method ($NMAM^{(R)}$) from thirty-eight workers in 12 factories who work in 6 different processes. Geometric mean (GM) and geometric standard deviation (GSD) were used to describe the result. To compare the results of the two methods, paired t-test was used. According to the manual of the exposure assessment of the mixed organic solvents (Ministry of Labor, Korea), Em was calculated. Simple linear regression was used to evaluate the relationship between the two methods. Results were as follows; 1. Eight different solvents (ethyl acetate, n-hexane, toluene, xylene, acetone, isopropyl alcohol, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and methyl isobutyl ketone) were detected simultaneously in the two methods and the concentrations of the personal exposure were lower than 0.5 TLV level. The concentration of the charcoal tube method was higher than that of a diffusive sampler in n-hexane and MEK (p<0.05). 2. Em of the charcoal tube method was higher than that of diffusive sampler method but not significantly different and was lower than the OEL (Occupational Exposure Limit) in all 6 processes. 3. There was a significant correlation between the two methods in low concentrations of the 8 organic solvents (p<0.05). In conclusion, there was no difference in charcoal tube method and diffusive sampler method in low concentrations of some organic solvents, diffusive sampler can be applied to assess the personal monitoring in low level exposure.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.8-18
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• 2005

Adsorption capacity for the charcoal were tasted in this study to verify the performance of them for the use of the sampling media in industrial hygiene field. Two set of experiments were conducted. The first experiment was to test performance of the tested charcoal tube that were assembled in the laboratory with the use of the GR grade charcoal. The other tests were investigate the adsorption capacity of the charcoal tested in this study and charcoals embedded in the commercial charcoal tubes. Known air concentration samples for benzene, toluene, and o-xylene were prepared by the dynamic chamber. 1. At low air concentration levels (0.1${\times}$TLV), there was no significant differences between the tested charcoal tubes and the SKC charcoal tubes. This implies that there is no defect with the adsorption capacity of the charcoal. 2. At high concentration with 60 minutes sampling, the breakthrough were found only in the tested charcoal while no breakthrough were shown in the SKC charcoal. 3. From the breakthrough tests for the charcoal, the micropore volume(Wo) were calculated by the curve fitting with the use of Dubinin/Radushkevich(D/R) adsorption isotherm equation. The calculated values were 0.687cc/g for SKC, 0.504cc/g for Sensidyne, and 0.419cc/g for the tested charcoal(Aldrich). 4. Adsorption capacities were obtained from the isotherm curves shown adsorption capacities at several levels of the challenge concentration. All range of the air concentration concerned in industrial hygiene, the SKC charcoal showed approximately two times of adsorption capacity compared to the tested charcoal.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 1994

Diffusional sampling devices offer many advantages for measuring concentration levels of industrial contaminants than the conventional pump and charcoal tubes because they are lightweight, require no power, pump or tubing. This study designed to evaluate and compare the sampling performance of passive sampler to charcoal tube from mixed organic solvent workplace with 181 organic solvent using workers working in different concentration of organic solvents. All study workers kept both devices in their breathing zone simultaneuosly in the workplaces, and the sampling analytical results were compared with those of charcoal tube. The results obtained are as follows: 1. The concentrations of toluene and xylene measured by passive sampler were slightly higher than those of charcoal tube, but there were no significant statistical differences between two methods. 2. The concentrations of MEK and cyclo-hexanone measured by passive sampler in low exposure workplace (below 0.20 of MEK TLV levels and 0.1 of cyclo-hexanone TLV levels) were about 2 times higher than that of charcoal tube sampling. While, absorption efficiency of passive sampler was reduced according to increasing concentration measurements of MEK and cyclo-hexanone in air. 3. The ratios of concentrations of toluene, xylene, MEK and cyc1o-hexanone measured by passive sampler over those measured by charcoal tube were 1.11, 1.07, 1.63 and 3.65 respectively. 4. The percentages of concentration of passive samplers within 0.75 and 1.25 of charcoal tube value as a reference value of 1.0 were 57% in toluene, 74% in xylene, 34% in MEK and 32% in cyclo-hexanone respectively. 5. The correlation coefficients of toluene, xylene, MEK and cyclo-hexanone between passive sampler and charcoal tube sampler were 0.963, 0.957, 0.943 and 0.562 with statistical significance.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.200-211
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• 1995

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of temperature and humidity on the sampling efficiency of mixed organic vapors of l,2-DCE, benzene, and MIBK by 3 different types of diffusion monitors. Independent variables used for the study were temperatures ($25^{\circ}C$, $35^{\circ}C$), humidities (30%, 80%), and vapor concentrations (low, medium, and high). In addition, vapor concentrations measured by the traditional charcoal tube method were used as reference values and were compared with those of by diffusion monitors. The results were as follows: 1. The desorption efficiencies(DE) of 1,2-DCE and benzene from charcoal tubes and from diffusion monitors ranged from 98% to 105%. In contrast, the DEs of MIBK from charcoal tubes and diffusion monitors except DM1 ranged from 71% to 85%. The DE of MIBK from DM1 was 98%. 2. No statistically significant differences of 1,2-DCE concentrations and the sampling efficiencies regardless of temperatures and humidities studied between charcoal tube and 3 diffusion monitors were found. 3. At 80% humidity, increasing frequencies of 1,2-DCE breakthrough at higher temperature and higher vapor concentration measured by charcoal tubes were observed. 4. No statistically significant difference of benzene concentrations were found between charcoal tube and diffusion monitors except DM3. The sampling efficiencies of DM3 were statistically significantly lower at all experimental conditions except the $35^{\circ}C$ and 30% humidity condition. 5. No statistically significant difference of MIBK concentrations were found between charcoal tube and diffusion monitors except DM3. The sampling efficiencies of DM3 were statistically significantly higher at higher humidity conditions regardless of temperature. Although statistically not significant, sampling efficiency of MIBK showed positive correlation with humidity while negative correlation with concentration was observed. 6. For sampling 1,2-DCE and benzene, no significant variations of concentrations among three diffusion monitors regardless of temperature and humidity conditions were found. For MIBK sampling, however, wide variations with increasing humidity among diffusion monitors were obtained. In conclusion, this study suggests that diffusion monitors will be a reasonables substitute for the traditional charcoal tubes for sampling non-polar organic vapors at temperature and humidity conditions studied. For polar organic vapors, use of an alternative desorption solution other than CS2 is recommended because of its low desorption efficiency. In addition, since variable among diffusion monitors for polar organic vapors particularly at higher humidity conditions were observed, further study is recommended of the effects of humidity on the performance of diffusion monitors.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.193-200
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• 2014

Objectives: To develop domestic charcoal tubes with good adsorption capacity, breakthrough experiments were performed on four types of activated charcoal. Materials: The adsorption capacity and the adsorption rate were determined using a modified Wheeler equation after the breakthrough experiment. For four types of charcoal (J, K, S and SKC Inc. 226-01), 100 mg were used in the breakthrough experiment. The test was done on benzene, toluene, n-hexane, and acetone in a dynamic chamber. Results: K charcoal had the greatest surface area and the highest micropore volume. J charcoal had a similar surface area and micropore volume to SKC charcoal. S charcoal had the lowest surface area and micropore volume. J charcoal had the highest adsorption capacity at 101, 252 and 609 ppm of benzene. The gap in benzene adsorption capacity among the types of charcoal was the least at 609 ppm and the greatest at 101 ppm. J charcoal showed the highest adsorption capacity at 54, 106, 228 and 508 ppm of toluene. J charcoal and SKC charcoal had a similar adsorption capacity for acetone. J charcoal had the highest adsorption capacity for n-hexane. In the experiment featuring 10% breakthrough volume, 10% breakthrough occurred at 18 liters at $2065.9mg/m^3$ for J charcoal and at 20 liters at $1771.2mg/m^3$ for K charcoal. It was difficult to judge adsorption capacity by surface area and micropore volume of charcoal. J charcoal, which was similar to SKC charcoal in surface area and micropore volume, showed good adsorption capacity at common workplace concentrations. Conclusions: The adsorption capacity of J and K charcoal was superior compared with SKC charcoal. J and K charcoal can be considered appropriate for use as sampling media based on this result.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.209-221
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to find a suitable cosolvent to $CS_2$ so that desorption efficiency can be improved for both polar and non-polar organic solvent mixtures collected on an activated charcoal tube. Cosolvents added to $CS_2$ include: DMF(N,N-dimethylformamide): $CS_2$ (v/v 1:99), DMF:$CS_2$(v/v 3:97), BC (butyl carbitol, 2-(2-butoxy ethoxy) ethanol):$CS_2$(v/v 1:99), and BC:$CS_2$(v/v 3:97)). The results obtained were as follows : 1. Comparing the desorption efficiency of $CS_2$ with those of $CS_2$ with 1, 3, 5 % DMF and 1, 3 % BC cosolvents for two different groups of charcoal tubes each containing 8 different polar and non-polar organic solvents with 3 different concentration levels, the desorption efficiencies of the cosolvent-added $CS_2$ increased significantly for all polar organic solvents regardless of concentration levels tested. For non-polar organic solvents, no noticeable improvement was detected except xylene and trichloroethylene. The desorption efficiency of xylene increased significantly while that of trichloroethylene increased significantly at the lowest concentration level tested. 2. Either 5 % DMF or 3 % BC was the most suitable cosolvent because the desorption efficiency for non-polar organic solvent mixtures was similar or slightly improved compared with that of $CS_2$, while those of for polar organic solvent mixtures were above 75 % except for cyclohexanone. 3. The smallest variations in desorption efficiency represented by the ratio calculated from the maximum to minimum desorption efficiency for all concentration levels tested were found when 3 % BC was used as a cosolvent. The above results indicate that the desorption efficiency of $CS_2$ particularly for polar organic solvent mixtures collected on a charcoal tube can be significantly improved by the use of cosolvents such as 5 % DMF or 3 % BC. A caution, however, is in order for selecting a cosolvent whenever the cosolvent itself is being used in the workplace or the impurities contained in the cosolvent may interfere with the analytical results. In addition, to improve desorption efficiencies for such organic solvents as cyclohexanone or ketones, it is recommended to use suitable collection and desorption media other than the traditional method of charcoal tube collection/$CS_2$ desorption.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.353-358
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate desorption efficiency and storage stability on activated carbon acquired form domestic market. Materials: Mixture of acetone, benzene, normal hexane and toluene was injected on four types of charcoal 100 mg. After overnight, charcoal was desorbed by carbon disulfide $1m{\ell}$ and analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector. Results: Desorption efficiency of benzene, normal hexane and toluene in charcoal tubes were 95% ~ 105%. But desorption efficiency of acetone in charcoal tubes was below 75% and different from types of charcoal. The more injected amount of acetone on charcoal showed higher desorption efficiency. Acetone injected on charcoal tubes migrated from front section into back section after 10 days storage at room temperature. Conclusions: Desorption efficiency and storage stability of activated carbon acquired from domestic market was good for benzene, normal hexane and toluene. The activated carbon acquired from domestic market has ability to be used as sampling media.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.22-36
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• 1993

This study was conducted to evaluate the charcoal tube sampling method for carbon disulfide in the air. Breakthrough was investigated according to flow rate, sampling time and air volume. Also the storage stability by storage method and time was investigated. The results are summarized as follows. 1. The samples stored at room temperature($28.2^{\circ}C$), refrigerator($3.8^{\circ}C$) and freezer($-15.6^{\circ}C$) were analyzed every week to five weeks. At one week storage at room temperature, 3.5% of $CS_2$ in the front section of the charcoal tube migrated into the back section and 57.7% at five weeks. The amount of $CS_2$ in the back section of the charcoal increased continuously by storage time. Migration of $CS_2$ was slow at refrigerator, and stopped occur at freezer. Recovery rate $CS_2$ was 52-82% at room temperature and 92-101% at refrigerator, based on the amount at freezer as a reference value. Thus loss was observed at room temperature. 2. When 6-48 L of fresh air were passed through tubes with spiked amounts of 0.379 and 0.759mg sample, the amounts of $CS_2$ in the back section of charcoal were 5.7-132.4 and 0-92% of the amount in the front section, respectively. The total recovery rates of$CS_2$ from 0.379 and 0.759mg spiked sample were 35.7-101.0% and 9l.3-100.1%, respectively. $CS_2$ loss was observed in 0.379mg spiked sample, but not in 0.759mg spiked sample. In the spiked samples, the amount of $CS_2$ in the back section of charcoal was not affected by flow rate when the air volume was controlled. The amount of $CS_2$ in the back section of charcoal increased over sampling time. And the faster the flow rate, the more the migration amount when the sampling time was the same. 3. A known concentration, 10 ppm of $CS_2$, was produced in a 200 L Tedlar bag. When the air volume was 24, 36, 48 L, breakthrough was 5.8, 16.9, 47.4%, respectively. The sampling flow rate of 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 Lpm did not change the breakthrough rate. Breakthrough increased over sampling time. And the faster the flow rate, the more the breakthrough, when the sampling time was the same.