A modular, roving GC/MS system for fast, repetitive analysis of VOC/SOC gradients and trends
- Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (United States); and others
It is difficult to obtain representative VOC (volatile organic compound) and SOC (semi-volatile organic compound) measurements in ambient environments which exhibit complex concentration gradients and/or trends when one must rely on limited numbers of analyses from simple pooling or averaging techniques. A more effective approach is to perform large numbers of spacially and/or temporally resolved analyses to permit detailed mapping or profiling of local gradients and trends. This paper describes a roving GC/MS system based on the combination of a Hewlett-Packard model 5972 MSD (mass selective detector), a FemtoScan Enviroprobe repetitive vapor sampling inlet with short capillary GC column, an Alcatel Micro HV oil-less vacuum pump stack and a Pentium notebook PC. The roving system is further equipped with differential GPS (global positioning system) and radio transceiver capabilities thereby enabling remote tracking of vehicle location and local VOC concentrations. Laboratory tests demonstrate lower detection limits of less than 10 ppb for BTX (benzene, toluene and xylene), corresponding to minimum detectable quantities of less than 40 femtograms, and maximum analysis speeds of up to 5 GC peaks per second on a mixture of volatile ketones.
- OSTI ID:
- 613801
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-970113-; TRN: 98:001739-0051
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Field analytical methods for hazardous wastes and toxic chemicals conference, Las Vegas, NV (United States), 29-31 Jan 1997; Other Information: PBD: 1997; Related Information: Is Part Of Field analytical methods for hazardous wastes and toxic chemicals; PB: 909 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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