Monitoring ppt levels of BTEX with a field portable GC-PID

ABSTRACT SYMPOSIUM NAME: Advances in Analytical Separations

ABSTRACT SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM AREA NAME: [ANYL] Division of Analytical Chemistry

CONTROL ID: 2253132

PRESENTATION TYPE: Oral Only :

TITLE: Monitoring ppt levels of BTEX with a field portable GC-PID

AUTHORS (FIRST NAME, LAST NAME): John N. Driscoll2, Jennifer L. Maclachlan1

INSTITUTIONS (ALL): 1. PID Analyzers, LLC, Centerville, MA, United States. 2. PID Analyzers, LLC, Sandwich, MA, United States.

ABSTRACT BODY:  Abstract: The PID Analyzers Model GC312 is a field portable analyzer with an embedded PC that will run for 6 hours on the 12 VDC battery. The internal gas cylinder will operate the GC 312 for 25-30 hours with capillary columns. The photoionization detector (PID) has been redesigned to reduce the dead volume to 50 μL and improve the sensitivity to by 5-10 fold. The detection limit for benzene has been reduced to < 500 ppt. We felt that additional sensitivity (low ppt) was needed in order to identify other VOC’s in the atmosphere. As a result, we designed a battery operated attachment (concentrator) that will enable low ppt of aromatic hydrocarbons to be detected with a 1-2 minute sampling time. The redesigned PID can operate with a sealed discharged lamp (10.6 eV) and we now have a glow discharge lamp with higher energy (11.6 eV & 11.8 eV) using argon. This will allow the detection of alkanes down to ethane plus chloroalkanes. It is one of the most sensitive detectors for formaldehyde. Potential applications include atmospheric monitoring, fenceline monitoring of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), indoor air pollutants, ppb levels of toxic pesticides in foods and determining ppb levels of hydrocarbons in pure carrier gases.