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Methods for the characterization of Jet Propellent‐8: vapor and aerosol
Author(s) -
Gregg S. D.,
Campbell J. L.,
Fisher J. W.,
Bartlett M. G.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
biomedical chromatography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.4
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1099-0801
pISSN - 0269-3879
DOI - 10.1002/bmc.776
Subject(s) - aerosol , tenax , chemistry , sorbent , nebulizer , chromatography , analytical chemistry (journal) , mass spectrometry , water vapor , environmental chemistry , gas chromatography , adsorption , organic chemistry , medicine , anesthesia
Jet Propellant‐8 (JP‐8) has been responsible for the majority of reported chemical exposures by the US Department of Defense. Concerns related to human exposure to JP‐8 are relatively new; therefore, there is a lack of literature data. Additionally, health effects related to the composition of the exposure have only recently been considered. Two major questions exist: (1) what is the compositional difference between the aerosol and vapor portions of JP‐8 under controlled conditions and (2) what is the most representative method to sample JP‐8 aerosol and vapor? Thirty‐seven standards, representing more than 40% of the mass of JP‐8, were used for characterization of the neat fuel, vapor and aerosol portions. JP‐8 vapor samples at a concentration of 1600 mg/m 3 were prepared in Tedlar bags. A portion of the vapor samples was adsorbed on charcoal, Tenax and custom mixed phase sorbents. These samples were then extracted using organic solvent and analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The vapor samples extracted from the sorbent tubes were directly compared with a vapor bag. The samples collected using Tenax sorbent tubes were found to be most representative of the composition of the vapor bags. In another set of experiments, aerosolized JP‐8 was generated using a collision nebulizer. Aerosol samples were collected and the chemical composition was characterized. The entire aerosol distribution was collected on a glass filter, extracted into solvent, and analyzed by GC‐MS. Finally, the composition of the vapor and aerosol was compared. The vapor was found to represent the lower molecular weight components of JP‐8, while the aerosol was composed of higher molecular weight components. Therefore, the vapor and aerosol should be treated as two discrete forms of exposure to JP‐8. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.