Analysis of ambient air for Chicago by solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

CHED 1092

Frank A. Pierri, pierrfa@lfc.edu, Department of Chemistry, Lake Forest College, 555 N. Sheridan Rd., Lake Forest, IL 60045
Benzene and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are analyzed in ambient air for two 50 mile transects located north and west of the city of Chicago. Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is used with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and the results are compared with ambient concentrations of air toxics modeled by the EPA in 1996. Gas standards were prepared by diluting a standard calibration mixture with zero air using a stainless steel gas manifold. Ambient air was collected by filling a standard dilution bottle to ambient pressure. SPME fibers were introduced to the ambient air samples for an interval of time and analyzed using GC/MS. The data is compare to the EPA's modeled ambient concentrations, and point and area source are investigated using wind velocity.