Discovering Volatile Chemicals from Window Weatherstripping through Solid-Phase Microextraction/Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Volatile compounds from polymeric materials such as weatherstripping were identified by solid-phase microextraction (SPME), a solvent-free analytical method, coupled to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). These compounds, originating from additives and fillers used in weatherstripping proc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of chemical education Vol. 94; no. 11; pp. 1784 - 1789
Main Authors Rosu, Cornelia, Cueto, Rafael, Veillon, Lucas, David, Connie, Laine, Roger A, Russo, Paul S
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Easton American Chemical Society and Division of Chemical Education, Inc 14.11.2017
Division of Chemical Education, Inc and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society
American Chemical Society
Subjects
Additives
Biochemistry
Chemicals
Chromatography
College Science
Exchanging
Experiments
Fillers
Gas chromatography
Hands on Science
High School Students
Instrumentation
Instruments
Laboratory Experiments
Laboratory Procedures
Mass spectrometry
Mathematical analysis
Odors
Olfactory Perception
Plastics
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Science Experiments
Science Process Skills
Scientific Concepts
Secondary School Science
Solids
Spectroscopy
Undergraduate Students
Volatile compounds
First-Year Undergraduate/General
Hands-On Learning/Manipulatives
Analytical Chemistry
Testing/Assessment
Polymer Chemistry
Mass Spectrometry
Second-Year Undergraduate
High School/Introductory Chemistry
Gas Chromatography
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Summary:Volatile compounds from polymeric materials such as weatherstripping were identified by solid-phase microextraction (SPME), a solvent-free analytical method, coupled to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). These compounds, originating from additives and fillers used in weatherstripping processing, were mostly polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The goal of this laboratory experiment was to demonstrate that a reliable connection can be established between the ability of our everyday olfactory sense to detect noxious odors and modern analytical instrumentation. The approach discussed here will guide students to develop critical thinking by interchanging between polymer and analytical instrumentation knowledge. The conceptual simplicity of SPME makes its inclusion in the undergraduate and high school curriculum appropriate and requires 2–3 h of laboratory time to complete.
ISSN:0021-9584
1938-1328
DOI:10.1021/acs.jchemed.6b00791