Analysis of organic substances in the atmosphere by gas chromatographs with ionization detectors

It is now possible in principle to analyze directly for a number of organic components by using a few ml of gaseous sample in a gas chromatograph equipped with an ionization detector. In practice, the flame ionization detector is an excellent detector for source and atmospheric hydrocarbons. The data available at present indicate that gas chromatographs equipped with flame ionization detectors are entirely feasible for monitoring. When such equipment does become available it will be possible ultimately to obtain a highly detailed picture of the volatile organic substances present in urban atmospheres.