Polyurethane Foam as an Effective Adsorbent for Pesticides in Air (GC Analysis)

Increasing concern over the presence of pesticides in indoor and ambient air has led to the use of polyurethane foam (PUF) as a lightweight, easy-to-use sampling material for these semi-volatile compounds. Cylindrical PUF plugs of appropriate density effectively trap contaminants without creating excessive back pressure. In this application note, background and pesticide recovery from cleaned and un-cleaned PUF plugs were compared, to verify that cleaning procedures do not alter the performance of the plugs.