Method for the determination of carbon monoxide in workplace air using a Fourier‐transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR spectrometer)
Air Monitoring Method
Anastasia Gluschko1Robert Befurt2
Thomas Helmut Brock3
Ralph Hebisch4
Andrea Hartwig5
MAK Commission6
1 Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Alte Heerstraße 111, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany
2 ANSYCO Analytical Systems and Component GmbH, Ostring 4, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
3 German Social Accident Insurance, Institution for the raw materials and chemical industry, Prevention - Department of Hazardous Substances, Biological Agents and Analytical Chemistry, Kurfürsten-Anlage 62, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany
4 Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Friedrich-Henkel-Weg 1–25, 44149 Dortmund, Germany
5 Institute of Applied Biosciences, Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Adenauerring 20a, Building 50.41, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
6 Permanent Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn, Germany
Abstract
This analytical method is a validated measurement procedure for the determination of carbon monoxide in workplace air. The sampling is performed stationary. In the measurement procedure the concentration of carbon monoxide is measured continuously and recorded directly. The sample flow rate is set to max 2.0 L/min. The detector records an interferogram, from which the absorption spectrum is obtained by means of an internal Fourier transform calculation. The signal patterns in the IR spectrum are compared, and the concentrations of carbon monoxide in workplace air are determined. This method is suitable for measurement at the workplace over longer time periods as well as for short‐term measurement. It is also possible to read the current CO concentration at any time. The limit of quantification is 0.29 ppm and the limit of detection is 0.09 ppm for a measurement period of one minute. For a measurement period of 20 seconds a limit of quantification of 0.41 ppm and a limit of detection of 0.12 ppm were obtained.
Joint Publication of the Analytical Subcommittee of the Chemistry Board of Experts of the Expert Committee Raw Materials and Chemical Industry of the German Social Accident Insurance and the working group “Air Analyses” of the Permanent Senate Commission of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area.
