Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
5-31-1990
Degree Name
Master of Science in Environmental Science - (M.S.)
Department
Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Environmental Science
First Advisor
Barbara B. Kebbekus
Second Advisor
Richard B. Trattner
Third Advisor
Joseph W. Bozzelli
Abstract
Internally polished stainless steel canisters are being used in many laboratories to collect whole air samples for VOC analysis. The replacement of adsorbents for collection and concentration of VOC by canister collection, with in-laboratory cryogenic concentration, may solve some problems associated with adsorbents, such as artifact generation and breakthrough. However, the canisters can be a source of new problems, ranging from wall adsorption to memory effects.
In this work, four major contamination sources in the whole air sampling and analyzing system have been identified. They are the canister internal adsorption, the whole system transfer line, the air pump and the filter. The optimigation of the canister cleaning process is described. Blanking procedures for the canisters and the entire sampling train have been developed. The storage stability of cleaned canister in negative pressure for various intervals before collection has also been studied. The problem of dust deposits on the filter is also discussed. Finally, the moisture content of sample must be taken into consideration when the sample isbeing concentrated.
The results show that canister collected samples present some advantages over adsorbents, but there are also problems which need to be addressed and solved before canister becomes the method of choice for collection of VOC samples.
Recommended Citation
Ji, Weifang, "Quality assurance studies for collection of whole air samples in stainless steel canisters, for volatile organic compound determinations" (1990). Theses. 2762.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/2762
