Long-path FTIR measurements of volatile organic compounds in an industrial setting (July 1989-April 1991)

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:7161402

Russwarm, G M; Kragann, R H; Simpson, O A; McClenny, W A; Herget, W F

As part of a Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) field program, a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer was used to make open path measurements of volatile organic compounds in the New Castle, Delaware, area. The SITE program requires that new technologies be compared with more mature measurement techniques. In this case, a canister-based sampling and analytical methodology was chosen to compare with the FTIR measurements. Whole air samples were collected in the canisters as they were repeatedly transported along the open measurement path of the FTIR spectrometer. FTIR spectra were co-added for 32-min sampling intervals. Conclusions were: (1) that the FTIR system as it is currently configured can be used as a reliable monitoring instrument when the concentrations are greater than about 50 ppbv; (2) that transporting the canisters along the path is a viable technique for comparing long-path and point-sampler measurements.

• Research Organization: NSI Technology Services Corp., Research Triangle Park, NC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 7161402
• Report Number(s): PB-92-206424/XAB; CNN: EPA-68-D0-0106
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
FIELD TESTS
FOURIER TRANSFORMATION
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INFRARED SPECTROMETERS
INTEGRAL TRANSFORMATIONS
LAWS
MATERIALS
MATTER
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORING
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
POLLUTION
POLLUTION LAWS
RELIABILITY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPECTROMETERS
TESTING
TRANSFORMATIONS
US SUPERFUND
VOLATILE MATTER