Low detection HPLC – DAD analysis of aldehydes and ketones in indoor air : Development and validation by accuracy profile

Aliphatic aldehydes and ketones like formaldehyde are reactive volatile compounds and common indoor pollutants. The main sources are tobacco smoke, combustion gases, painting and materials. Theses compounds also arise from the reaction between unsaturated compounds and oxidative agents. The toxic potential of formaldehyde and other aliphatic/aromatic carbonyl compounds requires the determination of even low amounts of these compounds in indoor air. The present method for indoor monitoring uses adsorption at 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH)-coated sorbents followed by HPLC-UV/DAD analysis of the extract. Detection limits of 0.1μg/m3 were reached by this method which is sufficient for indoor air monitoring. Three DNPH-derivatives could be separated well on a RP-Amide column followed by UV/DAD-detection at 360 nm. Recovery rates of 70-100 % were determined using liquid spiking method.
Validation strategy was intentionally oriented towards the ease of use in routine and the liability of the method rather than extreme performances. For that, the validation by accuracy profile was chosen. The accuracy profile, based on the concept of total error (bias + standard deviation), allows to correctly conclude about the validity of a procedure and thus, guarantees that a known proportion of future results obtained with the method will be included within acceptance limits. For the three tested compounds, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acetone, the accuracy profile gave the guarantee that at least 95% of the future results obtained with the validated method will be within the ±25% acceptance limits over the whole concentration range defined. The HPLC parameters were also determinated. The performance of the method was finally evaluated by the analysis of indoor air from new timber frame construction.