ASTM_D_5578_-_04_2015.pdf

Designation:D557804(Reapproved 2015)Standard Test Method forDetermination of Ethylene Oxide in Workplace Atmospheres(HBr Derivatization Method)1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5578;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This test method covers a method of collecting andanalyzing samples to determine the amount of ethylene oxide(ETO)present in workplace atmospheres.1.2 This test method can be used to provide a time-weightedaverage(TWA)over the concentration range from 0.2 to 4 ppm(v).1.3 This test method can be used to determine 15-minexcursions(STEL)ranging from 1 to 25 ppm(v).1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as thestandard.1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.See Section 9 forspecific safety hazards.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis ofAtmospheresD3686 Practice for Sampling Atmospheres to Collect Or-ganic Compound Vapors(Activated Charcoal Tube Ad-sorption Method)D3687 Practice for Analysis of Organic Compound VaporsCollected by the Activated Charcoal Tube AdsorptionMethodE355 Practice for Gas Chromatography Terms and Relation-ships2.2 Other Standard:3Occupational Safety and Health Administration,U.S.De-partment of Labor,Title 29,Code of Federal Regulations,Part 1910,Subpart Z,Section 1910.10473.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsFor definitions of terms used in this testmethod,refer to Terminology D1356,and Practice E355.4.Summary of Test Method4.1 A known volume of air is pumped through a glass tubepacked with carbon molecular sieve,surface area 400 m2/gimpregnated with hydrogen bromide(HBr)where ETO isadsorbed and converted to 2-bromoethanol.4.2 The tube contains two reactive sections for samplecollection.The backup section collects vapors that passthrough the front section and is used to determine if thecollection capacity of the front section has been exceeded.4.3 The resultant derivative,2-bromoethanol,is desorbedwith a mixture of acetonitrile/toluene and analyzed using a gaschromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector.4.4 Desorption efficiency is determined by spiking tubeswith known amounts of 2-bromoethanol and analyzing with thesame procedure used for air samples.4.5 Quantitation is achieved by comparing peak areas fromsample solutions with areas from standard solutions.5.Significance and Use5.1 Ethylene oxide is a major industrial chemical withproduction volume ranked in the top 25 chemicals produced inthe United States.It is used in the manufacture of a greatvariety of products as well as being a sterilizing agent andfumigant.5.2 This test method provides a means of determiningexposure levels of ETO in the working environment at thepresently recommended exposure guidelines.1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D22 on AirQuality and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D22.04 on Workplace AirQuality.Current edition approved Oct.1,2015.Published October 2015.Originallyapproved in 1994.Last previous edition approved in 2010 as D5578 04(2010).DOI:10.1520/D5578-04R15.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3Available from U.S.Government Printing Office,Superintendent ofDocuments,732 N.Capitol St.,NW,Washington,DC 20401-0001,http:/www.access.gpo.gov.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 5.2.1 OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit(PEL)1 ppm,15-min excursion limit 5 ppm(CFR,Part 1910,Subpart Z,Section 1910.1047).35.2.2 ACGIH Threshold Limit Value(TLV)1 ppm(1.8mg/m3),suspected human carcinogen.46.Interferences6.1 Derivatives and other compounds that have identical ornearly the same GC column retention time as 2-bromoethanolduring the gas chromatographic analysis will interfere.6.2 Interferences can sometimes be resolved by altering gaschromatographic operating conditions.The identity of sus-pected 2-bromoethanol,or the presence of 2-bromoethanolmasked by a chromatographic interference,or both,can beverified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.7.Apparatus7.1 Carbon Molecular Sieve,surface area 400 m2/g,HBrsampling tube.7.1.1 Preparation of Collection MediumAdd 20 mL ofHBr(24%)to 70 g of carbon molecular sieve,surface area 400m2/g,in a glass jar.Cap the jar and mix the contents thoroughlyfor 5 min by rotating.Allo