Comparison of Sampling and Analysis Methods for Measurement of Airborne Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Operating Petrochemical Plants

The concentration of aromatic compounds in air samples from operating petrochemical units is determined by three different gas chromatographic (GC) techniques. The data indicate that a portable GC provided data that is consistent with results obtained by charcoal tube adsorption and SUMMA canister sampling. The major limitation of the portable GC approach employed in this study is its higher detection limits compared with the other methods. A significant advantage of the portable GC is that it allows for significantly more samples to be obtained at a given site, thereby providing the opportunity to map out spatial and temporal distributions of aromatic compounds. Such information is used to develop strategies to limit worker exposure, identify possible emission sources, and trigger maintenance activities.