Justification of a new method for the quantitative determination of sodium acetate in air for hygienic monitoring of the working environment

Introduction. There is proposed a method for monitoring sodium acetate (SA) in the air of the working area, which is widely used in various industries in the absence of a method for its determination. Materials and methods. In the process of developing the technique, the possibility of using the capillary gas chromatography method with flame ionization detection was studied and justified. The qunatitative analysis of SA was based on the reactions of its preliminary transformation into acetic acid methyl ester. The resulting ether was analyzed chromatographically using a capillary column with a high-polar stationary phase in temperature programming mode. Results. The developed algorithm includes the capture of SA onto a polyvinyl chloride filter; the extraction of SA with distilled water; the sequential conversion of SA into acetic acid and its methyl ester under the action of a solution of sulfuric acid in methanol; extraction of the reaction product with a hexane-ether mixture and gas chromatographic analysis. In the process of metrological certification of the methodology, its specificity in relation to SA was proved, the indicators of repeatability (3.3%), reproducibility (4.3%), correctness (19%), and accuracy (21%) were established. The technique passed a metrological examination on the base of the Nizhny Novgorod Center for standartization, metrology, and testing and was tested in a laboratory room in conditions of artificially created dustiness. It allows the detecting of SA in the air in the concentration range from 2 to 50 mg/m3 with SA error of no more than 25%, i.e. it meets the requirements of the State System for Ensuring the Uniformity of Measurements. Limitations. Since the method is based on acetate ion conversion reactions, any soluble salts of acetic acid can interfere with the determination of sodium acetate. Conclusion. The developed methodology is specific, quite expressive, sensitive and can be recommended for implementation in the practice of institutions conducting research in the field of assessing the air quality of the work area, creating safe working conditions, and assessing occupational risk.