Abstract
In this study, an experimental approach to measure a suite of low weight hydrocarbons was investigated with an emphasis on ethylene (EL) along with many others (ethane (EA), propane (PA), propylene (PL), n-butane (BA), acetylene (AL), methyl acetylene (ML)). Their concentrations were quantified using GC-FID system equipped with thermal desorption (TD) system. The TD-based analysis was conducted using both Link Tube/Thermal Desorber (LT/TD) method and Modified Injection through a Thermal Desorption (MITD) method. The results of these analyses were evaluated in a number of respects. The system allowed the detection of all compounds except methane with the mean response factor (RF) of 10.28 (EA) to 11.94 (PL). The method detection limits of target compounds were seen in the range of 0.027 (ML) to 0.146 ng (BA). The emission flux of some environmental samples (fruits), when measured using a small flux chamber system, fell in the range of 0.14 (AL: Kiwi) to $181ng{\cdot}g^{-1}{\cdot}hr^{-1}$ (EL: Apple Peel). The results of this study confirm that the experimental approach developed in this study allows to accurately measure emissions of low weight hydrocarbons (LWHC) like ethylene from various natural and man-made source processes.
