Trace analysis of semi‐volatile organic air pollutants using thick film silicone rubber traps with capillary gas chromatography

Established standard methods for analyzing semi‐volatile pollutants by capillary gas chromatography are cumbersome, time‐consuming, and expensive. With the longer term aim of replacing the sample preparation procedures with convenient concertrating and thermal desorption steps, thick film silicone rubber traps were constructed in a novel multi‐channel configuration. Tests were performed to determine breakthrough volumes and thermal desorption characteristics for total transfer of the trap contents to a capillary column. Initial results are very promising.