Issue 1, 2001

Determination of low concentrations of benzene in urine using multi-dimensional gas chromatography

Abstract

A method for the determination of benzene in urine of occupationally or environmentally exposed persons was developed. The method was based on dynamic headspace, preconcentration on a solid sorbent, followed by thermal desorption and gas chromatographic determination. To achieve sufficient selectivity, we used multi-dimensional gas chromatography in combination with the inexpensive and robust flame ionisation detector. The limit of detection was 7 ng l−1 and the limit of quantification was 23 ng l−1. The linearity was good (correlation coefficient 0.999) in the range examined (20–4000 ng l−1) and the repeatability was 9%. The average recovery at low concentrations (20–400 ng l−1) was 86%. Analysis of a certified reference material of benzene in water, traceable to NIST, did not differ significantly from the certified value. Samples, frozen (−20 °C) in glass bottles sealed with Teflon–silicon septa, were stable for 1 year and refrigerated samples (4 °C) for at least 1 week. Loss of benzene during the collection and transfer of urine was investigated and found to be acceptable. The method is a cost effective and robust alternative to GC-MS and permits reliable quantification of occupational exposure and, in most cases, also of urine concentrations that can be expected from environmental exposure.

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
04 Sep 2000
Accepted
13 Nov 2000
First published
06 Dec 2000

Analyst, 2001,126, 41-45

Determination of low concentrations of benzene in urine using multi-dimensional gas chromatography

G. Ljungkvist, M. Lärstad and L. Mathiasson, Analyst, 2001, 126, 41 DOI: 10.1039/B007157I

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