Objective: To establish a flow injection analysis for hygienic examination of volatile phenol compounds in the air of residential area.
Method: Volatile phenol compounds in the air was sampled by a fritted glass bubbler with 10 ml 0.1 mol/L sodium hydroxide inside and analyzed by a flow injection analyzer. The samples were reacted with 4-aminoantipyrine after online distillation in the presence of potassium ferricyanide.
Results: There was a linear relationship in the range of 0 - 1500 microg/L. The samples could be stored in a 4 degrees C refrigerator at least for 7 days. This method showed a high reproducibility with relative standard deviations of 0.84% - 1.0%. The recoveries of standard addition of the method were 100.3% - 103.3%. The detection limit was 0.0003 mg/m3 and the linear range was 0.0009 -0.25 mg/m3. The absorption efficiencies were 96.1% - 97.2%.
Conclusion: This method meets the requirements for the analysis of volatile phenol compounds in the air of residential area.