Graphene packed needle trap device as a novel field sampler for determination of perchloroethylene in the air of dry cleaning establishments

In this paper we describe the application of a needle trap microextraction device packed with graphene nanoplatelets for the sampling and analysis of perchloroethylene in dry cleaning. The study was carried out in two phases. First the parameters for the sampling and analysis of perchloroethylene by NTD were evaluated and optimized in the laboratory. Then the sampler was used to determine the levels of perchloroethylene in a dry-cleaning shop. In the laboratory phase of the study the performance of the NTD packed with the proposed sorbent was examined in a variety of sampling conditions to evaluate the technique. The technique was also compared with NTDs packed with PDMS as well as SPME with Carboxen/PDMS-coated fibers. Both the NTDs and SPME performed better at lower sampling temperatures and relative humidity levels. The post-sampling storage times for a 95% recovery of the analyte were 5, 5 and 3 days for NTD-graphene, NTD-PDMS and SPME–CAR/PDMS respectively. The optimum desorption time was 3min for NTDs packed with either graphene or PDMS and 1min for SPME–CAR/PDMS. The limits of detection for the GC/MS detection system were 0.023 and 0.25ngmL−1 for NTDs packed with graphene and PDMS and 0.014ngmL−1 for SPME coated with CAR/PDMS. In the second stage of the study the evaluated technique was applied to the sampling and analysis of perchloroethylene in dry cleaning. In this environment the performance of the NTD-graphene as a field sampler for PCE was similar to that of the SPME-CA/PDMS, and better than the NIOSH 1003 method which had greater measurement variations. The results show that a NTD packed with carbonic graphene nanoplatelets and used as an active exhaustive sampling technique is effective for determination of VOC and HVOC occupational/environmental pollutants in air. [Display omitted] •Graphene was used with NTD for the first time reported.•NTD-graphene compared to NTD-PDMS and SPME–CAR/PDMS.•NTD-graphene, SPME–CAR/PDMS used for PERC sampling in field.•The results for SPME and NTD performance compared to NIOSH 1003 method.•Both NTD and SPME are powerful techniques for sampling of VOCs in air.