Analytical method for the determination of acrylonitrile in environmental tobacco smoke

Translation of DGUV Information 213-579 (former BGI 505-79)

CAS Number: 107-13-1 

Synonyms:

  • Acrylic acid nitrile
  • 2-Propenenitrile

Method 01 – GC/MS – limited suitability: category E1

Sampling is carried out with a pump and adsorption on charcoal. Analysis is performed by gas chromatography after desorption.

This method determines the nicotine concentration due to exposure to tobacco smoke in the ambient air at the workplace, averaged over the sampling period with personal or stationary sampling.

Principle

A defined volume of air is drawn through a charcoal tube by a pump. Then the adsorbed acrylonitrile is desorbed with a mixture of ethyl acetate and methanol, and analysed by gas chromatography.

Limit of quantification (LOQ)

Absolute: 22 pg of acrylonitrile.

Relative: 0.1 µg/m3 of acrylonitrile for an air sample volume of 200 L, a sample solution of 1 mL and an injection volume of 1 µL.

Issue

November 2001

The measuring method is of limited suitability (E1). 

The complete measuring method is available in the Wiley Online Library: Method for the determination of acrylonitrile in environmental tobacco smoke (Air Monitoring Methods, 2013).

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