Pentane-1-ol and its isomers. Determination in workplace air with GC with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID)
Authors: Zieliński Marek , Twardowska Ewa , Kucharska Małgorzata 
Published: March 2019

Amyl alcohol (pentan-1-ol) – C5H12O or C5H11OH – is an organic chemical compound from the group of saturated monohydric aliphatic alcohols. There are 8 known isomers of pentanol: pentan-1-ol (CAS:71-41-0), pentan-2-ol (CAS: 6032-29-7), pentan-3-ol (CAS: 584-02-1), 2-metylobutan-1-ol (CAS: 137-32-6), 3-metylobutan-1-ol (CAS: 123-51-3), 2-metylobutan-2-ol (CAS: 75-85-4), 3-metylobutan-2-ol (CAS: 598-75-4) i 2,2-dimetylopropan-1-ol (CAS: 75-84-3). All of them are commonly referred to as amyl alcohols. Pentanol isomers exhibit chemical properties characteristic of aliphatic alcohols, they are obtained by hydration of pentene isomers, hydrolysis of chloropentanes or by reaction of butene and carbon monoxide isomers. They are used as solvents for fats, resins and waxes. Pentan-1-ol is absorbed into the human body through the respiratory tract, skin, gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms of acute intoxication are usually tearing eyes, redness of the conjunctiva, irritation of the mucous membrane of the nose and throat. In higher concentrations it may cause headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, delirium, disturbances of consciousness, coma. Arrhythmia and respiratory disorders may cause redness and burning, as well as symptoms such as inhalation poisoning, eye contamination with liquid substance causes pain, burning of the eyes, redness of the conjunctiva, with the risk of long-lasting and permanent changes. Repeated skin contact with the liquid substance may cause its drying and inflammation. It is suggested that long-term exposure of the skin to the substance at high concentration may lead to changes in the nervous system. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a sensitive method of determining 8 pentan-1-ol isomers in the working environment in the range from 1/10 to 2 of the MAC values. The gas chromatography method with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) was used to determine pentan-1-ol and its isomers. It was decided to develop a method that ensures the determination of at least 1/10 of the MAC values. Further considerations of the possibility of determining this substance in the air are based on previously developed analytical methods. The use of the HP-5 capillary column enables the selective determination of pentan-1-ol in the presence of carbon disulphide, methanol and other co-existing compounds. The detector's response to the analyzed pentan-1-ol concentrations is linear (r2 = 0.9998) in the concentration range 10–2000 μg/ml, which corresponds to the range of 1–200 mg/m3 (0.01–2 of the MAC values) for a 10-L air sample. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of this method is 0.026 μg/ml. The developed method is characterized by good precision and accuracy and meets the requirements of Standard No. PN-EN 482 for procedures regarding the determination of chemical agents. The developed method for determining pentan-1-ol has been recorded in the form of an analytical procedure (see Appendix). This article discusses the problems of occupational safety and health, which are covered by health sciences and environmental engineering.