Quantitative determination of bis (chloromethyl) ether (BCME) in the ppb range by using portable air sample collectors.

Using the GC-MS technique a new method could be developed for measuring air concentrations of the carcinogenic Bis(chloromethyl)ether (BCME) at the lower ppb level after the compound has been adsorbed to Porapak Q in a sample tube. Simulation experiments have shown that the whole amount of adsorbed BCME can be recovered from the adsorbent and that the former disturbing factors (such as co-adsorbed water and thermal desorption that tended to decompose the BCME and thus falsify the results of analyses) are wholly eliminated. The storage time of BCME in the tube has no influence on the recovery rate.