Carbonyl compounds, including low molecular weight aldehydes and ketones, are receiving increased attention by the regulatory community. Formaldehyde in automobile exhaust accounts for 50-70 percent of the total atmospheric carbonyl burden. Furthermore, motor vehicles emit reactive hydrocarbons that undergo photochemical oxidation in the atmosphere, producing formaldehyde and other carbonyls. Short-term exposure to formaldehyde and other specific aldehydes (acetaldehyde, acrolein, crotonaldehyde) causes irritation of the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. Formaldehyde is a major promoter in the formation of photochemical ozone.
Formaldehyde is the target compound for US EPA Compendium Method TO-11A and Method 8315, but at least 14 other carbonyl compounds also can be detected and quantified. Method T0-11A modifies the sampling procedures outlined in earlier Method TO-5; the newer method is based on the specific reaction between carbonyl compounds and the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) coating on a silica gel adsorbent (packed in cartridges), in the presence of a strong acid catalyst. The reaction produces stable, colored hydrazone derivatives.
To meet the needs of analysts monitoring these compounds, Restek offers a new 15-component aldehyde standard for US EPA Compendium Method TO-11A and Method 8315. The concentration of the mix components, 15μg/mL each, is similar to the concentration of interest in most ambient air work.
A 150 x 4.6 mm Ultra C18 HPLC column (cat.# 9174565) is optimal for fast, reliable analyses of the derivatives of formaldehyde, the other aldehydes, and the ketones in the reference mix; it resolves all 15 compounds in 16 minutes.
Conc. in Solvent and Volume:
15 μg/mL each in acetonitrile, 1 mL/ampul