5.1 VOCs are emitted into ambient, indoor, and workplace air from many different sources. These VOCs are of interest for a variety of reasons including participation in atmospheric chemistry and acute or chronic human health impacts.

5.2 Canisters are particularly well suited for the collection and analysis of very volatile and volatile organic compounds. This test method describes the collection and analysis of whole gas samples and is not subject to high volatility limitations.

5.3 Chemically stable selected VOCs have been successfully collected in passivated stainless steel canisters. Collection of atmospheric samples in canisters provides for: (1) convenient integration of air samples over a specific time period (for example, 8 to 24 h), (2) remote sampling and central laboratory analysis, (3) ease of storing and shipping samples, (4) unattended sample collection, (5) analysis of samples from multiple sites with one analytical system, (6) dilution or additional sample concentration to keep the sample size introduced into the analytical instrument within the calibration range, (7) collection of sufficient sample volume to allow assessment of measurement precision through replicate analyses of the same sample by one or several analytical systems, and (8) sample collection using a vacuum regulator flow controller if electricity is not available.

5.4 Interior surfaces of the canisters may be treated by any of several proprietary passivation processes including an electropolishing process to remove or cover reactive metal sites on the interior surface of the vessel and a fused silica coating process.

5.5 For this standard, VOCs are defined as organic compounds that can be quantitatively recovered from the canisters having a vapor pressure greater than 10^-2 kPa at 25ºC and 760 mm Hg.

5.6 Target compound polarity is also a factor in compound recovery. Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons from C1 to C13 have been successfully measured with this standard but are not listed in Table 1 (21). Higher polarity target compounds may interact with the canister surface or humidity on the canister surface causing their apparent vapor pressure to decrease. Polar VOCs such as ethers and esters have been successfully measured by this method and are listed in Table 1.

5.7 Recovery and stability studies shall be conducted on compounds not listed in Table 1 before expanding the use of this test method to additional compounds.

1.1 This standard describes a procedure for sampling and analysis of selected volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ambient, indoor, and workplace atmospheres. The test method is based on the collection of whole air samples in stainless steel canisters with specially treated (passivated) interior surfaces. For sample analysis, a portion of the sample is subsequently removed from the canister and the collected VOCs are selectively concentrated by adsorption or condensation onto a trap, subsequently released by thermal desorption, separated by gas chromatography, and measured by a mass spectrometric detector or other detector(s). This test method describes procedures for sampling into canisters to final pressures both above and below atmospheric pressure (respectively referred to as pressurized and subatmospheric pressure sampling).2

1.2 This test method is applicable to specific VOCs that have been determined to be stable when stored in canisters. Numerous compounds, many of which are chlorinated VOCs, have been successfully tested for storage stability in pressurized canisters (1-4).3 Documentation is also available demonstrating stability of VOCs in subatmospheric pressure canisters. Information on storage stability is available for many polar compounds as well (5-7).

1.3 The procedure for collecting the sample involves the use of inlet lines, air filters, flow rate regulators for obtaining time-integrated samples, and in the case of pressurized samples, an air pump. Typical long-term fixed location canister samplers have been designed to automatically start and stop the sample collection process using electronically actuated valves and timers (8-10). Temporary or short-term canister samplers may require the user to manually start and stop sample collection. A weatherproof shelter may be required if the sampler is used outdoors. For the purposes of this test method, refer to Practice D1357 for practices and planning ambient sampling events.

1.4 The organic compounds that have been successfully measured at single-digit parts-per-billion by volume (ppbv) levels with this test method are listed in Table 1. The test method is applicable to VOC concentrations ranging from the detection limit to approximately 300 ppbv. Above this concentration, smaller sample aliquots of sample gas may be analyzed or samples can be diluted with dry ultra-high-purity nitrogen or air.

1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Safety practices should be part of the user's SOP manual.