Abstract

In this study the application of a needle trap microextraction device (NTD) as a novel air micro-sampler, packed with graphene nanoplatelets for the sampling and analysis of per-chloroethylene in dry cleaning establishments was investigated. The study was carried out in two steps. First the parameters for the sampling and analysis of perchloroethylene by NTD were evaluated and optimised in the laboratory. Then the micro-sampler was used to determine the levels of perchloroethylene in a dry-cleaning shop. In the laboratory phase of the study the performance of the NTD packed with the proposed sorbent was examined in a variety of sampling conditions to evaluate the technique. The effect of sampling temperature and relative humidity, after sampling storage time and analytical performance of the tech-nique on sampling and extraction efficiency were investigated in laboratory. Afterward, the technique was compared to the NIOSH recommended method for sampling of HVOCs in field. The results show that a NTD packed with carbonic graphene nanoplatelets and used as an active exhaustive sampling technique is effective for determination of VOC and HVOC occupational/environmental pollutants in air. This method shows the new trends for sam-pling of occupational and environmental air pollutants and introduces the future demand for developing these kinds of techniques.