ABSTRACT
This chapter briefly discusses the application, chemical properties and physical properties of styrene. It presents detailed information on the air analysis and analysis of aqueous and nonaqueous samples of styrene. Styrene is used for manufacturing plastics, resins, and synthetic rubber. It slowly polymerizes on exposure to light and air and forms peroxide. Styrene is colorless liquid with penetrating odor, soluble in water and miscible with most organic solvents. During the analysis of aqueous and nonaqueous samples of styrene, a measured volume of the sample is purged with an inert gas. Styrene is purged out from water and absorbed on a sorbent trap. The trap is heated and back flushed with helium. The analyte is transported into the gas chromatography (GC) column. During the air analysis of styrene, air is drawn through a sorbent tube packed with coconut shell charcoal.
