Development and validation of a methodology for quantifying parts-per-billion levels of arsine and phosphine in nitrogen, hydrogen and liquefied petroleum gas using a variable pressure sampler coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The reliable determination of arsine (AsH3) and phosphine (PH3) in hydrogen (H2), nitrogen (N2) liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is great importance because its drastic effects on the efficiency catalysts, as well strict regulations associated with health, safety environmental issues. It challenging for an analyst to determine parts per billion AsH3 PH3 H2, N2, LPG at low high pressures without collection procedures using adsorption, desorption, dissolution techniques. To overcome this analytical need methodology was developed, employing a variable pressure sampler (VPS) coupled chromatograph (GC) mass spectrometry (MS) identification quantification traces PH3. instrumentation, tubing accessories VPS were made passivated steel avoid losses from absorption which would generate significant problems. had homogeneous heating block that prevented analyte condensation. With VPS, 24 standards prepared between 0.005 0.1 mg kg?1 balance N2 LPG. separation analytes achieved improved GC 4 valves 5 columns series guaranteed elimination impurities. proposed method optimized GC-MS then validated showing highly accaptable linearity (r2 > 0.9999), detection limits (<0.0009 kg?1), (<0.003 intra-day inter-day precision accuracy (<1.14% ?3.0% respectively), recovery standard addition (86–109%), P values> 0.05 test Student's t paired who evaluated effect matrix concentration. speed analysis (<5.2 min). applied real samples, values Ziegler Natta catalyst 56%.