Analytical method for the determination of ethylene oxide
Translation of DGUV Information 213-527 (former BGI 505-27 or ZH1/120.27)
CAS Number: 75-21-8
Synonym: Oxirane
Method 07 – GC
Method for the determination of ethylene oxide in workplace air using gas chromatography after solvent desorption.
The mean concentration of ethylene oxide at the workplace over the sampling period can be determined with this method using personal or stationary sampling.
Principle
A pump draws a defined volume of air through a tube filled with activated charcoal. The adsorbed ethylene oxide is desorbed using a toluene/carbon disulphide mixture (90+10 v/v) and converted to 2-bromoethanol using hydrobromic acid after the phases have separated and been filtered. For analytical determination a gas chromatograph with a mass-selective detector (MSD) is used.
Limit of quantification (LOQ)
Absolute: 0.044 µg of ethylene oxide per adsorption tube.
Relative: 0.007 mg/m³ of ethylene oxide for an air sample volume of 6 l, 3 ml of desorption solution and an injection volume of 2 µl.
Issue
November 2019
The complete measuring method is available in the ZB Med: Ethylene oxide – Method for the determination of ethylene oxide in workplace air using gas chromatography after solvent desorption (The MAK Collection for Occupational Health and Safety, Volume 7, No 1, 2022).
Method 06 – GC
Method for the determination of ethylene oxide in workplace air using gas chromatography after thermal desorption.
The mean concentration of ethylene oxide at the workplace over the sampling period can be determined with this method using personal or stationary sampling.
Principle
A pump draws a defined volume of air through two adsorption tubes connected in series and packed with 300 mg of Chromosorb 106. The deposited ethylene oxide is then thermally desorbed and after gas chromatographic separation it is determined using the flame ionisation detector (FID).The calibration is performed using a certified test gas.
Limit of quantification (LOQ)
Absolute: 3.0 ng.
Relative: 0.015 mg/m³ for an air sample volume of 200 ml.
Issue
November 2017
The complete measuring method is available in the ZB Med: Ethylene oxide – Method for the determination of ethylene oxide in workplace air using gas chromatography after thermal desorption (The MAK Collection for Occupational Health and Safety, Volume 7, No 1, 2022).
Method 05 – GC after thermal desorption – withdrawn
Sampling is carried out with a pump and adsorption on Amberlite XAD-4 polymeric resin. Analysis is performed by gas chromatography after thermal desorption.
This method can be used with personal and stationary sampling to determine the mean concentration for ethylene oxid at the workplace over the sampling time.
Principle
A pump draws a defined volume of air through a metal tube filled with XAD-4. The adsorbed ethylene oxide is then desorbed in a thermal desorber by heating and analysed by gas chromatography.
Limit of quantification (LOQ)
Absolute: 20 ng of ethylene oxide.
Relative: 0.04 mg/m3 of ethylene oxide for an air sample volume of 500 mL.
Issue
October 2006
Withdrawn
March 2017
The complete measuring method is available in the Wiley Online Library: Method for the determination of ethylene oxide (Air Monitoring Methods, Volume 12, 2011).
Method 04 – Headspace GC, MS – limited suitability: category E2
Sampling is carried out with a pump and adsorption on charcoal. Analysis is performed by headspace gas chromatography with mass selective detection (GC/MS).
This method can be used with personal or stationary sampling to determine the mean concentration of ethylene oxide at the workplace over the sampling time.
Principle
A pump draws a defined volume of air through a glass tube filled with charcoal. The adsorbed ethylene oxide is desorbed with a mixture of N,N-dimethylacetamide/water (water content approx. 20% by volume). The analytical determination is achieved by headspace gas chromatography and detection with a mass selective detector.
Limit of quantification (LOQ)
Relative: 0.055 mg/m3 of ethylene oxide based on a 6 L air sample, 5 mL sample solution and an injection volume of 0.5 mL from the headspace.
Issue
October 2006
The measuring method is of limited suitability (E2).
The complete measuring method is available in the Wiley Online Library: Method for the determination of ethylene oxide (Air Monitoring Methods, Volume 12, 2011).
Method 03 – GC – withdrawn
Sampling with a pump and adsorption on the polymeric resin Amberlite XAD-4, gas chromatography after thermal desorption.
This method can be used with personal or stationary sampling to determine the mean concentration of ethylene oxide at the workplace over the sampling time.
Principle
With a pump a measured air volume is drawn through a metal tube filled with XAD-4. The adsorbed ethylene oxide is desorbed by heating in a thermal desorber and analysed by gas chromatography.
Limit of quantification (LOQ)
Absolute: 20 ng ethylene oxide.
Relative: 0.1 mg/m3 ethylene oxide in 200 mL air sample.
Issue
May 1993
Withdrawn
October 2006
The complete measuring method is available in the Wiley Online Library: Method for the determination of etylene oxide (Analyses of Hazardous Substances in Air, Volume 4, 1999).
Method 02 – GC – withdrawn
Sampling with a pump and adsorption on activated carbon, gas chromatography after desorption and derivatisation with hydrobromic acid.
This method can be used with personal or stationary sampling to determine the mean concentration of ethylene oxide at the workplace over the sampling time.
Principle
With a pump a measured air volume is drawn through an activated carbon tube. The adsorbed ethylene oxide is desorbed with a mixture of toluene and carbon disulfide, reacted with hydrobromic acid to form bromoethanol and analysed by gas chromatography.
Limit of quantification (LOQ)
Absolute: 0.71 ng bromoethanol ≙ 0.25 ng ethylene oxide.
Relative: 0.1 mg/m3 ethylene oxide for 12 L air sample, 5 mL desorption solution and 1 µg injection volume.
Issue
January 1989, revised November 1994
Withdrawn
October 2006
The complete measuring method is available in the Wiley Online Library: Method for the determination of etylene oxide (Analyses of Hazardous Substances in Air, Volume 4, 1999).
Method 01 – GC – withdrawn
Sampling with a pump and adsorption on activated carbon, head space gas chromatography or gas chromatography after desorption.
This method can be used with personal or stationary sampling to determine the mean concentration of ethylene oxide at the workplace over the sampling time.
Principle
With a pump a measured air volume is drawn through activated carbon. The adsorbed ethylene oxide is desorbed with a non-volatile solvent and detected by head space gas chromatography (operating method A) or determined by gas chromatography (operating method B) after desorption with carbon disulfide.
Limit of quantification (LOQ)
Operating method A
Absolute: 9 µg per 1 g activated carbon.
Relative: 0.5 mL/m³ (ppm) ≙ 0.9 mg/m³ ethylene oxide in 10 L air sample.
Operating method B
Absolute: 4.5 ng ethylene oxide
Relative: 0.5 mL/m³ (ppm) ≙ 0.9 mg/m³ ethylene oxide in 10 L air sample.
Issue
January 1989, revised November 1994
Withdrawn
October 2006
The complete measuring method is available in the Wiley Online Library: Method for the determination of etylene oxide (Analyses of Hazardous Substances in Air, Volume 4, 1999).
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