Measurement of Trace Amounts of Hexafluoroacetcbne in Air by Infrared Spectrometry, after Conversion to Fluoroform Bertsil B. Baker, Jr., and D. Peter Carlson’ Plastics Department, E. 1. du Pont de Nernours and Co., lnc., Experimental Station, Wilmington, Del. 79898
Hexafluoroacetone is harmful a t levels below which it is detected by odor. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists has adopted a Threshold Limit Value of 0.1 ppm as a guide for exposure of industrial workers without adverse effect. I t is therefore desirable that the air in working areas where industrial use is made of hexafluoroacetone be tested periodically to ensure t h a t a level below 0.1 ppm is maintained. A survey of the literature has revealed no procedure for the determination of hexafluoroacetone in air. We have employed direct infrared measurement of hexafluoroacetone in a 10-meter cell, using the 975 cm-* band, with satisfactory results down to about 2 to 3 ppm. This is a good technique to provide a nearly instantaneous alarm for these higher levels, but falls more than an order of magnitude short of the desired sensitivity for long-term exposure
