Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
5-31-1988
Degree Name
Master of Science in Environmental Engineering - (M.S.)
Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
First Advisor
Barbara B. Kebbekus
Second Advisor
Arthur Greenberg
Third Advisor
Su Ling Cheng
Abstract
A procedure for coating in situ silica gel in prepacked cartridges with 2,4-dinitrophenylhvdrazine (DNPH) acidified with hydrochloric acid is described. The method was evaluated under practical field conditions in The Northern New Jersey-Staten Island Urban Air Toxics Project. The formaldehyde hydrazone formed is desorbed by acetonitrile and determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV det.ection. In this study, we have examined trap coaz)ng, trap efficiency, parallel ambient air and inaoor air sampLing, to find the best analysis method. Sampling traps aci:iifled .:ith hydrochloric acid perform better than those using percnicric acid or phosphoric acid. Trap sampling efficiency was significantly affected by moisture and sampling temperature. During winter sampling, traps had an average 32% break¬through, but showed 15% breakthrough in summer. Also, h! frier formaldehyde concentrations was found during winter than during summer. After the method was completely optimized, sampling trap efficiency was improved to almost eliminate breakthrough. Future work to increase trap capacity and efficiency should be done.
Recommended Citation
Lin, Chitsan, "The quantitative determination of formaldehyde in ambient air (analytical method)" (1988). Theses. 3134.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/3134
