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Use and efficiency of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether and monoethanolamine to trap volatilized [7‐ 14 C]naphthalene and 14 CO 2
Author(s) -
Abbott C. K.,
Sims R. C.,
Sorensen D. L.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620110207
Subject(s) - naphthalene , chemistry , ethylene glycol , methanol , solubility , ethylene , ether , liquid scintillation counting , trapping , toluene , carbon 14 , acetone , nuclear chemistry , inorganic chemistry , radiochemistry , organic chemistry , catalysis , ecology , physics , quantum mechanics , biology
Separation of radiolabeled CO 2 from volatile parent compound(s) or degradation products in air from biodegradation microcosms has been done by using solubility in alkaline vs. nonpolar solvents or solutions. However, trapping solvents or solutions used to collect radiolabeled CO 2 may absorb some volatile intermediate products or the volatilized parent compound. Similarly, solvents used to trap volatile radiolabeled degradation intermediates or volatile parent compound may absorb some radiolabeled CO 2 . If this lack of absorption specificity is significant, the clear interpretation of radioactivity‐counting analyses may be compromised. A procedure designed to separate volatilized [7‐ 14 C]naphthalene and 14 CO 2 from the same air stream was evaluated for its efficiency. Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME) effectively trapped naphthalene (98.6% recovery) but retained approximately 0.8% of the 14 CO 2 , whereas monoethanolamine (MEA):methanol:scintillation cocktail solution trapped approximately 99.5% of the naphthalene and virtually 100% of the CO 2 . Preliminary studies of the efficiency of trapping solutions for parent compounds and mineralized CO 2 should be made before conclusions are made concerning the extent or rate of mineralization based on the amount of radiolabeled carbon retained in a trapping solution.