Journal of Pollution Effects & Control
Open Access

Abstract

Validation of a New Method for the Monitoring of Environmental Benzene at Low Concentration Using the Needle Trap Device

Bayatian M, Azari M, Ashrafi K, Jafari M and Mehrabi Y

Benzene has been emitted from most industrial chemicals and automobile gasoline, environmental and occupational exposure to a wide range of benzene has been observed. The needle trap device is a novel and inprogress exhaustive extraction trap which fluid can pass through it by pump. In this study, NTD consisted of a needle gauge 21 with 10 cm length that’s packed with Carboxen-1000 for adsorbing benzene. Samples were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detector and peak verification was examined by gas chromatographymass spectrometry. Linear range concentration was 25-2500 ppb and limit of detection; limit of quantitation and bias were 10, 20 ppb and -0.12 respectively. The agreement of atmospheric standards analyzed by the method of this study and OSHA’s method was examined by the Bland-Altman plot. According to this method, the agreement of two sets of data was established. 20 samples were taken to check the applicability of the developed method in a refinery unit. Benzene concentrations were measured in the range of 0.15 to 1.2 ppm. The results showed that needle trap device carboxen-1000 is a reliable and effective approach and more sensitive and powerful technique for the sampling and analysis of low concentration of benzene in the atmosphere.