Benchtop testing of polyethylene passive sampling towards a quantitative analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in soil vapours

Abstract

The feasibility of polyethylene (PE) as a passive sampler for quantitative analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was analysed in this work by means of a benchtop testing. A benchtop physical model was setup, which consisted of a jar of glass beads or sand, containing a known mass of toluene as the compound of concern (COC). A beaker of water was placed in the physical model as a second form of measurement of toluene concentration in the air. The concentration of toluene in the air of the physical model was measured using the PE passive sampler and compared to results found by measurement toluene in water in the beaker. The PE-inferred vapour concentrations were consistent with the measurements in the water. With benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and o-xylene (BTEX) selected to be quantified in the actual soil, both the PE passive sampler and the water-based measurement showed inconsistency in contrast to previous experiments with glass beads and sand. This inconsistency could probably be due to the presence of biodegradation. Nonetheless, if proved consistent in future, PE passive sampling can also be used to estimate the concentrations of compounds based on molecular weight in absence of known literature values of required parameters.