ABSTRACT
This chapter briefly discusses the application, chemical properties and physical properties of xylene. It presents detailed information on the air analysis and analysis of aqueous and nonaqueous samples of xylene. Xylene is used as a solvent and in the manufacture of dyes and drugs, and occurs in gasoline and petroleum solvents. It is a colorless liquid with characteristic odor, practically insoluble in water and readily miscible with organic solvents. During the analysis of aqueous and nonaqueous samples of xylene, xylene is thermally desorbed from the sorbent trap and backflushed with an inert gas onto a gas chromatography (GC) column for separation from other volatile compounds, and detected by photoionization detector (PID), flame ionization detector (FID), or a mass spectrometer. During the air analysis of xylene, air is drawn through a sorbent tube packed with coconut shell charcoal. Air is collected in a SUMMA passivated stainless steel canister either by pressurizing the canister using a sample pump or by repeated preevacuation.
