Ambient air analysis of volatile organic compounds using adsorptive enrichment

This review summarizes a presentation on ambient air analysis of volatile organic compounds given at the “Trace enrichment for GC and HPLC analysis” workshop at the ISC'02. Adsorptive enrichment of volatile organic compounds has become an important technique in ambient air analysis. The paper focuses on the use of adsorptive enrichment for sampling volatile organic compounds. Different techniques for sampling and desorption are reviewed and an overview of commonly used adsorbent materials is given. Furthermore, strategies for managing interferences, such as moisture, are discussed.