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In the Laboratory
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Use of a Dynamic Headspace GC-MS Method for the Study of Volatile Organic Compounds in Polyethylene Packaging. An Undergraduate Experiment in Polymer Analysis
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Steven C. Hodgson, R. John Casey, John D. Orbell, and Stephen W. Bigger
School of Life Sciences and Technology, Victoria University of Technology, Footscray Park Campus, P.O. Box 14428, Melbourne City MC, Melbourne 8001, Australia
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December 2000
Vol. 77 No. 12
p. 1631
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| Abstract |
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A novel experiment is described for introducing senior undergraduate physical chemistry and food science students to a technique commonly used to identify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are emitted from polymers at ambient temperatures. The VOCs in food-grade low-density polyethylene (LDPE) pellets are purged with nitrogen and trapped at ambient temperature on a Tenax-GC (2,6-diphenyl-p-phenylene oxide polymer) sorbent. The VOCs are liberated using dynamic headspace desorption and are separated and identified using the technique of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The relationship between the chromatographic peak area of a given VOC and the temperature of desorption, as well as the relationship between the total chromatographic area and the temperature of desorption, are quantitatively modeled using a modified form of the van't Hoff isochore.
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| Supplement |
Instructor notes, student materials, experimental procedures, and additional information needed to implement the experiment are available.
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 Contents |
JCE2000p1631W.doc (Microsoft Word 98, Macintosh); JCE2000p1631W.cdd (Claris Draw, Macintosh)
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| More Information |
Citation |
Hodgson, Steven C.; Casey, R. John; Orbell, John D.; Bigger, Stephen W. J. Chem. Educ. 2000 77 1631.
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Keywords |
Chromatography; Instrumental Methods; Laboratory Instruction; Mass Spectrometry; Plastics; Qualitative Analysis
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History |
Created:
Last Updated: |
November 3, 2000
August 31, 2005
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December
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