Published:Journal of Chromatographic Science,
ISSN 0021-9665Volume
40, Number 6, July 2002, pp. 350-354
Continuous Monitoring of Thermooxidative Degradation Products
of Polystyrene by Membrane Extraction with Sorbent Interface and Gas Chromatography
Ionel Ciucanu, Massoud Kaykhaii,
Larisse Montero, Janusz Pawliszyn, and Jacek Szubra Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo,
Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
A novel method for the continuous monitoring of thermooxidative
degradation products of polystyrene by membrane extraction with sorbent interface
(MESI) and gas chromatography (GC) is developed. The results are compared with
solid-phase microextraction–GC, which can extract gases, vapors, and aerosols.
The volatile and semivolatile degradation products are identified by mass spectrometry.
The membrane used in the MESI–GC analysis shows a high permeation for volatile
aromatic hydrocarbons; a low permeation for corresponding volatile aldehydes;
and no permeation for less volatile alcohols, acids, and degradation products
with a high molecular weight, thus reducing significantly the number of compounds
detected from MESI–GC. Sensitivity of the method depends on the time of
trapping, which is limited by the breakthrough of the trap. By heating the trap
at fixed intervals of time, consecutive gas chromatograms are obtained.
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