Decomposition of Terpenes by Ozone during Sampling on Tenax

Abstract

The ozonolytic decomposition of terpenes and terpenoids during sampling on Tenax is investigated in an artificial air system at ambient concentration levels. The detrimental effect of 8-150 ppbv ozone depends on the chemical structure of the compounds: saturated terpenoids such as 1,8-cineole, camphor, and bornyl acetate are unaffected by ozone. The terpenes and terpenoids which containing one C-C double bond are slightly decomposed in the order camphene < β-pinene ≈ myrtenal < α-pinene < sabinene ≈ citronellal. The compounds containing two or more double bonds are significantly decomposed in the order d-limonene ≈ citral < linalool < β-ocimene < terpinolene << α-terpinene ≈ β-caryophyllene. For α-pinene, sabinene and d-limonene, their ozonolysis products are found on the tubes: pinonaldehyde, 5-(1-methylethyl)bicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-one, and 3-(1-methylethenyl)-6-oxoheptanal. The analytical recoveries are significantly enhanced for many compounds when the sampling duration is reduced from 10 min to 30 s, explained by the time available for ozonolysis. A miniature ozone scrubber with multiple layers of MnO(2)-coated copper nets was developed and thoroughly tested. The optimal number of plies is found to be 8, which ensures quantitative recoveries for all test compounds except α-terpinene, β-caryophyllene, citral, and citronellal. The results that are reported here call into question previous data on terpenes and terpenoids and/or their oxidation products where measurements have been carried out without the prior removal of ozone.