Measurements of Low Concentrations of Carbonyl Sulfide

Three methods are described for measuring carbonyl sulfide at low concentration levels (1-120 ppm): mass spectrometry (MS), gas chromatography with an electron capture detector (GC/ECD) and measurements by a Beckman carbon monoxide infra-red analyser (B-CO). When the results obtained by mass spectrometry were used as reference values the two other methods gave linear responses. The practical applicability for gas chromatography with an electron capture detector for measurements of the carbonyl sulfide content of mainstream and sidestream cigarette smoke is demonstrated. The values obtained revealed an approximately eight times higher concentration of carbonyl sulfide in mainstream than in sidestream cigarette smoke.