Evaluation of a hypercrosslinked polystyrene, MN-200, as a sorbent for the preconcentration of volatile organic compounds in air.

Breakthrough volumes, average percentage recoveries, and storage stabilities were obtained for vapors of 8 volatile organic compounds (pentane, octane, undecane, isooctane, cyclohexane, toluene, methanol, and dichloromethane) on a new adsorbent material, Hypersol-Macronet, MN-200. Breakthrough volumes were estimated as half of the gas chromatographic specific retention volumes at 20 degrees C for the compounds. Recoveries of the adsorbates were determined by both solvent extraction and thermal desorption methods. The results obtained compare favorably with those for Tenax GR (values reported in the published literature and others obtained in our laboratory). Results of storage stability studies on MN-200 meet the criterion for acceptability (<10% loss). High adsorption capacity for very volatile and polar compounds, combined with ease of desorption of less volatile compounds, render MN-200 a highly promising adsorbent for sampling volatile organic compounds in indoor and outdoor air.