Application of a monolithic silica capillary adsorbent for the preconcentration of airborne trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene.

Monolithic silica with a bimodal pore structure was prepared in a fused silica capillary by the sol-gel process and investigated as an adsorbent for the preconcentration of airborne trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene. The airborne trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene are adsorbed when they flow through the silica capillary column and can be desorbed by liquid hexane followed by GC/MS analysis. The monolithic silica adsorbent is mechanically stable and no frits or other special structures are needed to retain them in place. In addition, owing to the smaller size of the capillary column, only a small volume of desorption solvent is needed. The present investigation demonstrates the satisfactory applicability of monolithic silica as a capillary adsorbent.