Application of a Needle Trap Sampler Containing Hydroxyl Fullerene Nanoparticles for Benzene Sampling in Air

Saleh Qahri  Saremi; Nabiollah  Mansouri; Mahmoud  Heidari; Marzieh  Shekarriz; Homayon Ahmad  Panahi

doi:10.18502/jhsw.v15i2.21397

Saleh Qahri Saremi Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Nabiollah Mansouri Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Mahmoud Heidari Department of Occupational Health, School of Health, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Marzieh Shekarriz Chemical, Polymeric and Petrochemical Technology Research Division, Faculty of Research and Development in Downstream Petroleum Industry, Research Institute of petroleum Industry (RIPI), Tehran, Iran
Homayon Ahmad Panahi Department of Chemistry, Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jhsw.v15i2.21397

Keywords: Benzene, Needle trap, Fullerene hydroxyl, Air sampling

Abstract

Introduction: Evaluation of air pollutants using green microextraction methods that do not requiresolvents and allow for sampling and analysis in a single step has received attention. In this study, theneedle trap microextraction method was developed and the hydroxyl fullerene adsorbent was used forbenzene sampling in air.

Material and Methods: Needle traps of identical length were filled with the selected adsorbent, anda standard chamber was used to generate specific benzene concentrations for sampling. Subsequently,the variables influencing the performance of the needle trap—specifically, sampling and desorptionparameters—were optimized to achieve maximum efficiency using response surface methodology andDesign Expert 11 software. Finally, the efficiency of the developed method was evaluated in a real-worldenvironment and compared with the NIOSH 1501 method.

Results: Sampling temperature and humidity had an inverse relationship with the peak response rate,such that the sampler performed better at low temperature and humidity. The adsorbent’s ability toretain the analyte, despite its high vapor pressure, was deemed satisfactory, with analyte loss after 5days measured at 5%. The maximum desorption occurred at 275°C and 3 minutes. The instrumental andquantitative detection limits were calculated to be 0.011 μgL-1 and 0.029 μgL-1 of air, respectively. Therelative standard deviation (RSD) as an indicator of the repeatability of the method under study was also5.38%. In a comparative study, the performance of the needle trap was evaluated to be better than theNIOSH method.

Conclusion: The needle trap method and the hydroxyl fullerene nanostructure adsorbent have a goodperformance in sampling benzene in air and are recommended for occupational and environmental monitoring.