The sorptive efficiency of Tenax for binary vapour mixtures

Breakthrough experiments have been performed by conducting vapours of 2-xylene, tetrachloroethene and n-octane in the concentration range 0.5-5 My mol/l trough 220 mg Tenax at 20 degree C and analyzing the effluent. From experiments with the single compounds, the individual sorption isotherms and safe sampling volumes were evaluated. Application of the binary mixtures leads to substancial reductions in both the individual capacities and safe sampling volumes, depending on the concentration ratio of the compounds in the mixture.