Sorptionsröhrchen

Sorptionsröhrchen, often translated as absorption tubes or sorbent tubes, are devices used for sampling and concentrating airborne contaminants. They are typically made of a glass or plastic tube filled with a sorbent material, such as activated carbon, silica gel, or polyurethane foam. These sorbent materials have a high capacity for adsorbing specific chemical compounds from the air.

The process involves drawing a known volume of air through the sorbent tube using a pump. As the air passes through the tube, the target analytes are retained by the sorbent material. After the sampling period, the sorbent tube is sealed and sent to a laboratory for analysis. In the laboratory, the adsorbed compounds are typically desorbed using a solvent or thermal desorption. The desorbed compounds are then analyzed using techniques like gas chromatography or mass spectrometry to identify and quantify the pollutants present in the sampled air.

Sorptionsröhrchen are widely used in occupational hygiene monitoring to assess exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides, and other hazardous substances in workplace environments. They are also employed in environmental monitoring to measure air quality and in industrial process control to track emissions. The choice of sorbent material depends on the specific chemicals being sampled and the desired analytical method. Their portability and ease of use make them a popular choice for personal and area air sampling.