GC determination of singlet oxygen using α-terpinene

Abstract

Singlet oxygen is a pollutant of the atmosphere, a component of photochemical smog. Its
quantification is complicated by the lack of standard samples. The generator capable of producing gas
streams with a given concentration of singlet oxygen is developed in CJSC “OPTEC”. For its
standardization, it is necessary to develop a technique of definition of singlet oxygen in the gas streams. To
solve the problem method of “chemical traps” with GC analysis was chosen. It includes singlet oxygen
absorption by passing air through the adsorption tube filled with adsorbent XAD-2 coated with α-terpinene
and GC determination of ascaridole – the product of [4+2]-cycloaddition of singlet oxygen to α-terpinene.
The proposed method takes into account the ascaridole thermal instability and the influence of the amount of
α-terpinene on the singlet oxygen capture efficiency. It was established that the generator produces
approximately 1.06 μg/m3
of singlet oxygen. The possibility of using PTFE as a carrier of α-terpinene was
also investigated.