ABSTRACT
This chapter briefly discusses the application, chemical properties and physical properties of trichloroethylene. It presents detailed information on the air analysis and analysis of aqueous and nonaqueous samples of trichloroethylene. Trichloroethylene is used in dry cleaning and degreasing. It is colorless liquid with chloroform-like odor, very slightly soluble in water and miscible with organic solvents. During the analysis of aqueous and nonaqueous samples of trichloroethylene, aqueous samples are extracted by the purge and trap method. The analyte is thermally desorbed and swept onto a gas chromatography (GC) column for separation from other volatile compounds, and detected by hall electrolytic conductivity detector (HECD), electron capture detector (ECD), flame ionization detector (FID), or MSD. Then, the aqueous extract or a solution of methanol extract is spiked into water. During the air analysis of trichloroethylene, samples are collected in a SUMMA passivated canister under pressure using an additional pump or at subatmospheric pressure by initially evacuating the canister.
