Benzyl alcohol – Method for the determination of benzyl alcohol in workplace air using gas chromatography after thermal desorption

This analytical method is a validated measurement procedure for the determination of benzyl alcohol [100‐51‐6] in workplace air in a concentration range of one tenth up to twice the currently valid MAK value of 22 mg/m3. With this method simultaneously airborne benzyl alcohol in the gaseous state as well as particles are collected. Sampling is performed by drawing a defined volume of air through a quartz fibre filter located in the sampling head with an adsorption tube filled with Tenax TA connected downstream using a suitable pump. The flow rate is set to 0.066 L/min with a recommended air sample volume of approx. 4 litres. The collected benzyl alcohol is thermally desorbed and then analysed by means of gas chromatography using two detectors, a FID for quantification and a MSD to recognise potential interferences. The quantitative determination is based on a calibration function obtained by means of a multi‐point calibration. The limit of quantification is 0.24 mg/m3 based on an air sample of approx. 4 litres.