Analytical method for the determination of bis(chloromethyl)ether

Translation of DGUV Information 213-506 (former BGI 505-06 or ZH1/120.6)

CAS Number: 542-88-1

Synonyms:

• BCME
• 1,1′-Dichlorodimethyl ether
• Oxybis(chloromethane)

Method 02 – GC, MSD after thermal desorption – limited suitability: category E1

Sampling with a pump, adsorption on Tenax-TA, thermal desorption, gas chromatography and mass-selective detection

This method permits the determination of bis(chloromethyl)ether (BCME) concentrations in working areas averaged over the sampling time after personal or stationary sampling.

Principle

With a pump a measured air volume is drawn through a Tenax-TA adsorption tube spiked with methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) as internal standard. Adsorbed BCME is thermally desorbed together with the internal standard, separated with a gas chromatograph and the masses determined using an ion trap detector (ITD). Sampling and analytical determination are controlled by means of the internal standard, MIBK.

Limit of quantification (LOQ)

Absolute: 1 ng BCME per adsorption tube.

Relative: 0.33 µg/m³ BCME for 3 L air sample corresponding to 0.07 µL/m³ (ppb).

Issue

July 1997

The measuring method is of limited suitability (E1).

The complete measuring method is available in the Wiley Online Library: Method for the determination of bis(chloromethyl)ether (BCME) (1,1′-dichlorodimethyl ether) (Analyses of Hazardous Substances in Air, Volume 5, 2002).

Go to the Wiley Online Library