Analysis of Halogenated Hydrocarbons and Glycol Ethers

Importance of the Topic

Volatile halogenated hydrocarbons and glycol ethers are widely used as solvents in industrial applications such as vehicle coatings. Their residual traces can affect product performance, compliance with environmental and safety regulations, and consumer health. Reliable quantitative analysis of these compounds is thus essential in quality control and regulatory testing.

Objectives and Study Overview

This study demonstrates a robust gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous analysis of 23 halogenated hydrocarbons and glycol ethers in vehicle paint samples. It is designed to meet requirements of standards GB/T 23992-2009 and GB/T 23986-2009, focusing on sensitivity, resolution, and throughput.

Methodology

Samples were introduced by split injection (1 µL, split ratio 10) at 200 °C. Helium was used as the carrier gas under constant linear velocity (25.4 cm/s). The column temperature program started at 35 °C (2 min), ramped to 120 °C at 10 °C/min, then to 230 °C at 30 °C/min, holding for 8 min. Mass spectra were acquired in electron ionization scan mode over m/z 20–250, with a 0.3 s event time.

Used Instrumentation

• Gas chromatograph–mass spectrometer: Shimadzu GCMS-QP2020 NX
• Autosampler: AOC-20i plus
• Column: SH-624, 60 m × 0.32 mm I.D., 1.8 µm film thickness

Main Results and Discussion

The total ion chromatogram achieved baseline separation of all 23 target compounds between 8 and 19 minutes. Peak shapes were sharp, and no significant coelution was observed. Methyl salicylate was used as an internal standard to ensure quantitation accuracy. The method demonstrated excellent repeatability and detection limits suitable for residual solvent analysis in coating matrices.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• High separation efficiency for complex solvent mixtures
• Regulatory compliance with national and international standards
• Rapid analysis suitable for routine quality control in coating and surface treatment industries

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Emerging directions include coupling with high-resolution MS for trace-level detection, expanding the solvent library to cover new industrial chemicals, and integrating automated sample preparation for higher throughput. Development of green analytical protocols and real-time monitoring systems also represent promising areas.

Conclusion

The presented GC-MS method provides a reliable, sensitive, and efficient approach for the analysis of halogenated hydrocarbons and glycol ethers in vehicle paints. The Shimadzu system ensures robustness and reproducible performance, supporting stringent quality control and regulatory requirements.

References

• Application News 03-GCM-365 (JP)