A field GC/ion trap mass spectrometer -- From concept to customer
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States). Chemical Science and Technology Div.
The authors discuss the evolution of a transportable gas chromatograph/ion trap mass spectrometer (GC/ITS) from inauguration to delivered product. The first generation GC/ITS was initially demonstrated in 1989. That instrument evolved in response to identified problems, and more recently, to meet customer requirements. In 1995, the second generation GC/ITS was demonstrated at Travis Air Force Base. In early 1996, the third generation GC/ITS was delivered to the US Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence. To the best of their knowledge, this program is the first example of a cooperative effort between the EPA, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Energy to expedite regulatory approval for the evaluation and acceptance of a new technology for environmental characterization. The GC/ITS was originally developed to rapidly screen for VOC contaminants in water and soil to expedite sample analysis and restoration activities. The authors discuss the process--on-going method development, the evolution of the sampling and analysis plan, and the month-long field demonstration--by which the instrument was modified and evaluated vis-a-vis the customer`s need for quantitative risk assessment data that can be used for EPA-regulated remedial activities. Field data for environmental and performance samples will be presented and compared with fixed lab results obtained using SW8260. The third generation GC/ITS was built after field work was completed and the data were evaluated. To assure its comparability with the field-demonstrated instrument, laboratory validation tests were performed. Results from that final study show that the transportable GC/ITS meets performance criteria for all of the matrix spike compounds used in the demonstration.
- OSTI ID:
- 452104
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-961149--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Accelerated site characterization with an innovative miniature portable GC
TPH measurements: The advantage of using GC/MS