Use of electrolytically generated hydrogen as a purge gas for the isolation of volatile organic compounds from groundwater

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Separation Science and Technology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/01496399308019743· OSTI ID:5194938

Chriswell, C D; Richard, J J ^[1]

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1. Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)

A device has been developed for use in determining parts per billion concentrations of volatile organic compounds in groundwater. This device is suitable for field use either as a self-contained, portable instrument or as an unattended monitor. The device consists of an immersible electrolysis cell in which hydrogen is generated. This hydrogen efficiently purges volatile organic compounds from water. Those volatile organic compounds are carried by the purge gas to a photoionization detector where their total concentration is measured. The significant advantages of this apparatus for use in the determination of volatile organic compounds include: (1) measurements are made in a hydrogen matrix which is free of interfering species present in water: (2) detection limits for volatile organic compounds are several orders of magnitude lower when compounds are purged from water than when they are measured in the headspace above water; (3) operation of this device does not require use of reagents or utilities other than electricity, which can be supplied by batteries; (4) the device can be readily configured such that it will fit in a small diameter sampling well; and (5) if used as a monitor in a sampling well, the only required connections with the surface would be signal and power lines. This device has a detection limit of less than 5 ppb for benzene. For 23 other organic compounds tested, response factors ranged from 0.1 to 1.5 times that for benzene. 10 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs.

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-82
• OSTI ID: 5194938
• Journal Information: Separation Science and Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Separation Science and Technology; (United States) Vol. 28:15-16; ISSN 0149-6395; ISSN SSTEDS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
440800 -- Miscellaneous Instrumentation-- (1990-)
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AROMATICS
BENZENE
DATA
ELECTROLYSIS
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FUELS
GASOLINE
GROUND WATER
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
IONIZATION
LIQUID FUELS
LYSIS
MATTER
MONITORING
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PHOTOIONIZATION
POLLUTION
VOLATILE MATTER
WATER
WATER POLLUTION