Gas chromatographic determination of acetic acid in industrial atmosphere and waste water.

A gas chromatographic (GC) method is presented for the specific determination of acetic acid in air and total ionic acetate (as acetic acid) in industrial waste water. Atmospheric air samples are collected in fritted midget bubblers containing aqueous sodium carbonate solution; wastewater samples are treated directly with sodium carbonate. Both air and water samples are concentrated by evaporation of water, and the acetic acid is regenerated by the addition of hydrochloric acid. The amount of acetic acid is determined quantitatively on a porous polymer packed column by internal standardization with propionic acid. GC conditions are described for the suppression of "ghosting" and "tailing" caused by adsorption phenomena associated with the GC behavior of organic acids.