Cover: The MAK Collection for Occupational Health and Safety

The MAK Collection for Occupational Health and Safety

German Research Foundation – Permanent Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area
(MAK Commission)

ISSN 2509-2383



Methansulfonsäure – Bestimmung von Methansulfonsäure in der Luft am Arbeitsplatz mittels Ionenchromatographie (IC)

Luftanalysen-Methode

Claudia Schuh1 (Methodenentwicklung)
  Ralph Hebisch2 (Leitung der Arbeitsgruppe „Luftanalysen“ der Ständigen Senatskommission zur Prüfung gesundheitsschädlicher Arbeitsstoffe, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)
Dietmar Breuer3 (Methodenprüfung)
Morten Blaskowitz3 (Methodenprüfung)
  Andrea Hartwig4 (Vorsitz der Ständigen Senatskommission zur Prüfung gesundheitsschädlicher Arbeitsstoffe, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)
  MAK Commission5

1 Berufsgenossenschaft Nahrungsmittel und Gastgewerbe, Prävention Zentrallabor, Dynamostraße 7–11, 68165 Mannheim, Deutschland
2 Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin (BAuA), Friedrich-Henkel-Weg 1–25, 44149 Dortmund, Deutschland
3 Institut für Arbeitsschutz der Deutschen Gesetzlichen Unfallversicherung (IFA), Alte Heerstraße 111, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Deutschland
4 Institut für Angewandte Biowissenschaften, Abteilung Lebensmittelchemie und Toxikologie, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT), Adenauerring 20a, Geb. 50.41, 76131 Karlsruhe, Deutschland
5 Ständige Senatskommission zur Prüfung gesundheitsschädlicher Arbeitsstoffe, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn, Deutschland

Abstract

The analytical method described here permits the determination of methanesulfonic acid [75-75-2] occurring as inhalable particles and vapour in workplace air. The concentration range covers one tenth up to twice the currently valid Occupational Exposure Limit Value (OELV) in Germany of 0.7 mg/m3 (inhalable fraction). The peak limit with an excursion factor of 1 for the inhalable fraction and vapour can also be checked. Sampling is performed using a flow-regulated pump to draw a defined volume of air through a quartz fibre filter, which is alkaline-impregnated with sodium carbonate and inserted in a GSP sampling system. The volumetric flow rate is 10 l/min. For sampling, 2 hours or 15 minutes can be used. Alternatively, an intake cone suitable for a flow rate of 3.5 l/min can also be used for a sampling duration of 2 hours. The collected methanesulfonic acid deposited on the filter is extracted by means of an aqueous sodium carbonate/sodium hydrogencarbonate solution and analysed by means of ion chromatography using a conductivity detector. Quantitative determination is based on multiple-point calibrations with external standards. For an air sample volume of 1200 litres, the relative limit of quantification (LOQ) is 0.021 mg/m3. With LOQ less than 0.17 mg/m3, the measurement of the short-term exposure limit (STEL) is also enabled with an air sample volume of 150 litres. The recovery is 100% and the expanded uncertainty is 22% for a 2-hour sampling and 35% for a 15-minute sampling.


Keywords

air analyses, analytical method, workplace measurement, hazardous substance, IC, quartz fibre filter, conductivity detector