Are Tube samplers good for collecting VOC samples?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Sometimes
• D. Not specified

Answer: (A)

For VOC sampling, tube samplers are a standard and effective approach because they trap volatile compounds directly from air onto a sorbent material inside the tube as air is drawn through it. This design concentrates the VOCs, allowing very low concentrations to be detected with analytical instruments like GC or GC-MS. Their portability, relatively low cost, and compatibility with straightforward laboratory analysis make them a practical choice for field work in occupational hygiene and ambient air monitoring.

You can tailor the setup by selecting appropriate sorbents (for example charcoal, Tenax, or Carbopack) to target the range of VOCs you expect, and by controlling the sampled air volume with a pump, which lets you balance sensitivity with practicality. Analysis is often done by thermal desorption, which cleanly transfers the trapped VOCs to the GC system without introducing solvents.

There are caveats to keep in mind: for some very volatile or highly reactive compounds, breakthrough or degradation on certain sorbents can occur, so selecting the right sorbent and handling/storage conditions is important. When these considerations are addressed, tube samplers provide reliable, widely accepted VOC collection suitable for accurate lab analysis.