Nithi Prassara. A study of the effect of relative humidity on breakthrough volume of charcoal tube sampling . Master's Degree(Industrial Hygiene and Safety). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2003.
A study of the effect of relative humidity on breakthrough volume of charcoal tube sampling
Abstract:
Industry in Thailand has been growing continuously over the past few years.
This induces wide use of chemicals as raw materials for production. The industrial
hygienist has a responsibility to evaluate chemical concentrations in working
environment, and to control them in order to reduce workers’ exposures to acceptable
levels. Humidity can interfere with the adsorption of chemicals on charcoal, a sampler
for many organic hydrocarbons, causing breakthrough. In Thailand, awareness of
breakthrough while sampling is important because our climate is hot and humid. The
study was conducted to determine the effect of relative humidity on breakthrough
volume.
Commercial charcoal tube (SIBATA, Lot. No. 9897), which was packed with
100 and 50 mg of 20/40 mesh charcoal in the front and back up section, respectively,
was used as the sampler for the experiment. The concentration of m-xylene vapor was
generated at approximately 50, 100, 200 and 300 ppm. at each concentration, and
vaporized water was added into the sampling chamber in order to generate relative
humidity inside at 50% and 80% approximately. When vaporized water was not added
into the system, the relative humidity was 10% approximately. The vapor of m-xylene
in the sampling chamber was drawn through the charcoal tube at the flow rate of 200
ml. / min. The air effluent from charcoal tube was monitored by Portable Gas
Chromatography (Photo Vac. 10Splus digital gas chromatography) to determine the
effluent concentration of m-xylene. Breakthrough point was defined at 5% of influent
concentration. The experiment for each treatment was conducted for 5 replications.
ANOVA- Multiple Comparisons Test was used for comparison of the relative
humidity on breakthrough volume. The Multiple Regression Stepwise Method was
used for the comparison of the effect of the concentration of m-xylene and relative
humidity on breakthrough volume.
Results showed that breakthrough volumes of m-xylene at 10% relative
humidity were significantly different from those of 80% relative humidity at all
concentrations (α=0.05). However, the concentration of m-xylene had more influence
on breakthrough volume than the relative humidity at 95% confidence interval, thus
concentration of m-xylene should be used for breakthrough volume prediction rather
than for relative humidity, using Y = 113.152 – 0.388(conc.) when Y = Breakthrough
volume (Litres.) Conc. = Concentration of m-xylene (ppm.) and R2 Adjust = .769