Intercomparison of two automated gas chromatography systems for the analysis of volatile organic gases in ambient air

Book · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:197339

Bailey, S A; Brunelli, P C; Leston, A R ^[1]

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1. Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection, Hartford, CT (United States). Bureau of Air Management

The relative performance of two commercial automated gas chromatography (Auto-GC) systems for ambient air monitoring is discussed. Both systems have proven their ability to quantify most of the C{sub 2}--C{sub 10} compounds targeted in the US EPA`s enhanced monitoring program, at or below the requisite 1.0 part per billion carbon detection level. Neither cryogenic cooling of adsorption trap material nor low temperature ({minus}180 C) refocusing prior to sample injection were found to be necessary for satisfactory separation of these compounds. However, the permeation-style dryer utilized by both systems removes many polar and/or oxygenated species of interest. In addition to obtaining the technical expertise to operate Auto-GC systems, organizations involved in enhanced monitoring need to reevaluate their data handling resources. Raw data from these GC`s must be backed-up, telemetered and quickly assessed in order to efficiently utilize resources and minimize lost data. Because existing data logging and telemetering systems are structured for relatively low data flows, the large quantity of raw data from a single GC (> 1.5 Megabytes/day) can easily overwhelm such systems. Data management and assessment may well prove to be the most labor intensive activity associated with the enhanced monitoring program.

• OSTI ID: 197339
• Report Number(s): CONF-9405167--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE
VOLATILE MATTER