Determination of tricarbonyl (2-methylcyclopentadienyl) manganese in gasoline and air by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection

Abstract

Gas chromatography with electron-capture detection provides a highly sensitive technique for quantifying tricarbonyl(2-methylcyclopentadienyl)managanese (MMT). Airborne MMT can be collected by drawing a known volume of air through tubes containing XAD-2, and MMT concentrations as low as 0.001 mg m^–3 can be monitored using a 10 I sample. No significant breakthrough was observed when 60 I of air were sampled at 1.0 I min^–1 in the presence of a large excess of gasoline. The MMT in gasolines or other hydrocarbon fuels can be quantified by direct injection after dilution (1 + 99 or more) with hexane.