ABSTRACT
This chapter briefly discusses the application, chemical properties and physical properties of ethylbenzene. It presents detailed information on the air analysis and analysis of aqueous and nonaqueous samples of ethylbenzene. Ethylbenzene is used as a solvent and an intermediate to produce styrene monomer. It is a colorless liquid with characteristic aromatic odor. Ethylbenzene is soluble in water and readily miscible with organic solvents. During the analysis of aqueous and nonaqueous samples of ethylbenzene, ethylbenzene is transferred from aqueous to vapor phase under helium purge. The analyte is adsorbed on a sorbent trap, thermally desorbed out from the sorbent trap and backflushed with helium onto a gas chromatography (GC) column for separation from other volatile compounds, and determined by photoionization detector (PID), flame ionization detector (FID), or a mass spectrometer. During the air analysis of ethylbenzene, air is drawn through a sorbent tube packed with coconut shell charcoal.
