Analytical method for the determination of benzene

Translation of DGUV Information 213-504 (former BGI 505-04 or ZH1/120.4)

CAS Number: 71-43-2

Method 04 – GC/MS

Sampling is performed by drawing a defined volume of air through an adsorption tube filled with carbon black using a suitable flow-regulated pump.

This analytical method is a validated measurement procedure for the determination of benzene in workplace air averaged over the sampling period after personal or stationary sampling.

Principle

A defined volume of air is drawn through a tube containing activated charcoal by a sampling pump. The adsorbed benzene is then desorbed using carbon disulfide and determined using the mass-selective detector (MSD) after gas chromatographic separation.

Limit of quantification (LOQ)

Absolute: 0.08 ng, per sample carrier: 0.16 µg.

Relative: 0.004 mg/m³ of benzene for an air sample volume of 40 L, 2 mL of desorption solution and an injection volume of 1 µL.

Issue

November 2019

The complete measuring method is available in the ZB Med: Benzene – Method for the determination of benzene in workplace air using gas chromatography after solvent desorption (The MAK Collection for Occupational Health and Safety 2021, Volume 6, No. 4).

Method 03 – GC/MS after thermal desorption

Sampling is performed by drawing a defined volume of air through a thermal desorption tube filled with Carbopack B/Carbopack X using a suitable flow-regulated pump.

This analytical method is a validated measurement procedure for the determination of benzene in workplace air averaged over the sampling period after personal or stationary sampling.

Principle

A pump draws a defined volume of air through a thermal desorption tube packed with Carbopack B/Carbopack X. The adsorbed benzene is then thermally desorbed and determined using the mass-selective detector (MSD) after gas chromatographic separation.

Limit of quantification (LOQ)

Absolute: 0.08 ng.

Relative: 4 µg/m³ of benzene based on an air sample volume of 2 L.

Issue

November 2019

The complete measuring method is available in the ZB Med: Benzene – Method for the determination of benzene in workplace air using gas chromatography after thermal desorption (The MAK Collection for Occupational Health and Safety 2021, Volume 6, No. 4).