ABSTRACT
This chapter briefly discusses the application, chemical properties and physical properties of tetrachloroethylene. It presents detailed information on the air analysis and analysis of aqueous and nonaqueous samples of tetrachloroethylene. Tetrachloroethylene is used in dry cleaning and metal degreasing. It is colorless liquid with ether-like odor, insoluble in water and miscible with organic solvents. During the analysis of aqueous and nonaqueous samples of tetrachloroethylene, aqueous samples are extracted by the purge and trap method. The analyte is thermally desorbed out of the trap and swept onto a gas chromatography (GC) column for separation from other volatile compounds. During the air analysis of tetrachloroethylene, samples are collected in a SUMMA passivated canister under pressure using an additional pump or at subatmospheric pressure by initially evacuating the canister.
