SAMPLING OF AIR

Pranay Krishnan MSc EVS Part II Roll No: 14

REASONS TO DO AIR SAMPLING

To ensure that levels of pollutants in the environment are kept in check To ensure compliance with regulatory standards To choose proper PPE To ensure productivity of the workforce To determine source of leaks To perform epidemiology studies

DEFINITION
A process consisting of the withdrawal or isolation of a fractional part of air or gas for analysis. Also explained as the separation of a portion of an ambient atmosphere with or without the simultaneous isolation of selected components.

AIR SAMPLING IN GENERAL

Indoor Ambient (Outdoor) Soil/Atmosphere Solutions/Suspensions/Aerosols Industrial

SAMPLING PROTOCOL
Sampling protocols are written descriptions of the detailed procedures to be followed in the collection, packaging, preservation, transportation, storage and documentation of the samples. Keith. Most protocols should have statistical design to prove that the samples represent the matrix to be evaluated.

ELEMENTS
Site
Data Quality Objectives Analysis method (Specific selection of analysis method will be addressed separately) Sampling approach/Sampling Type

TYPES

Active Sampling Passive Sampling

TYPES (Depending upon the place/area or the situation).

Ambient Air Quality and Work Zone Estimation of Atmospheric pollutants (SPM, RPM, SO2, NOx, CO, Lead, etc.) Source Emission Monitoring Stack monitoring Fugitive emission source monitoring:o Process source. oOpen dust source.

ACTIVE SAMPLING
Is the collection of airborne hazards by means of an air sampling pump and the appropriate sampling media. The pump is used to collect and/or concentrate the chemical of interest onto the sampling media. Contaminated air is directly drawn into a sensor or collector. It provides a real time analysis of the sample.

KEY ELEMENTS OF ACTIVE SAMPLING

A sampling pump The sampling media System to indicate HOW MUCH air has been pulled or pushed A calibrator

ACTIVE SAMPLING OF GASES AND VAPORS

Many sampling methods require the use of sorbent tubes for sampling gases and vapors. A sorbent tube is a small glass tube normally filled with two layers of a solid sorbent material.

Contd..
COMMON SORBENT MATERIALS Activated Charcoal Silica Gel Tenax XAD-2 Chromosorbs The sorbent used to collect specific chemicals will be specified in the sampling method

Contd..
In some cases, it may be desirable to collect the entire air sample in a special bag designed for that purpose. This type of sample is termed a grab or instantaneous sample. GRAB SAMPLES Are usually taken for short periods of time to indicate peak airborne concentrations.

Gas bags e.g. Tedlar

Back up sorbent bed Activated Charcoal Sorbent Tubes

Direction of sample flow Main sorbent bed

Contd..
Some chemical hazards such as acids, ozone, chlorine and formaldehyde can be sampled using impingers. Impingers are specially designed glass bottles that are filled with a collection liquid specified in the sampling method for specific chemicals.

Impinger

AIRBORNE PARTICULATE HAZARDS

Dusts

Fumes
Mists Aerosols

ACTIVE SAMPLING FOR PARTICULATES

To sample for particulates, a filter loaded into a filter cassette will be used. The filter diameter, type and pore size will vary depending on the chemical being sampled and will be specified in the sampling method. To sample respirable dust, cyclone collectors are used.

AFTER SAMPLE COLLECTION

The tube/ cassette is capped and sent to a Laboratory for analysis. Sorbent is removed and the trapped chemicals are extracted using either solvent or heat and identified and quantified using GC or other laboratory equipment Bags containing the sample can be analyzed in the field using direct reading instruments. Filters can be analyzed by a variety of methods depending upon the chemical Gravimetric-Weighing the sample before and after collection. A variety of other Instrumental methods can be used.

PASSIVE SAMPLING
Is the collection of airborne gases and vapors at a rate controlled by a physical process such as diffusion through a static air layer or permeation through a membrane WITHOUT the active movement of air through an air sampling pump. Air diffuses into the collector with the help of vacuum. Longer period of time must be allowed for accurate results.

Contd..
Most passive samplers operate by diffusion. Diffusive samplers rely on the movement of contaminant molecules across a concentration gradient which can be defined by Ficks First Law of Diffusion. Chemicals will diffuse from an area of high concentration in the air to an area of low concentration on the sampler and the rate of diffusion for individual chemicals can be determined.

WHEN CHOOSING A PASSIVE SAMPLER

Be sure that it has been tested and verified to work effectively for the chemical of interest. Be sure to note the sampling rate in ml/min given by the supplier along with the minimum and maximum sampling times.

TO COLLECT A PASSIVE SAMPLE

Simply open the sampler at the sampling site and attach it to the worker in the breathing zone or hang in an area. It is important that there be some degree of air movement at the sampling site. Placement of the sampler in stagnant air will cause starvation and will cause low results to occur.

Cassette for collection of sample

Personal Sampling Devices

AFTER SAMPLE COLLECTION

Cover the sample opening to stop sample collection. Properly label the sample. Ship to the laboratory for chemical analysis.

Stack Sampling
The sample collected must be representative in terms of time and location. The sample volume should be large enough to permit accurate analysis. The sampling rate must be such as to provide maximum efficiency of collection. The contaminants must not be modified or altered in the process of collection.

Stack Sampling and Monitoring

Stack Sampling of PM 1) Probe inserted into the stack 2) Temperature sensor 3) Pitot tube gas velocity and flow rate 4) Two-module sampling unit

Table 1. Methods of Measuring and Analyzing Air Pollutants Method Variable Measured PM10, PM2.5 more than 60 metals or metalloid elements (e.g. Pb, Hg, Zn) SO2, O3 Principle Particles are trapped or collected on filters, and the filters are weighed to determine the volume of the pollutant. This technique operates by measuring energy changes in the atomic state of the analyte. Emitted radiation is a function of atoms present in the sample. Measure the amount of light that a sample absorbs. The amount of light absorbed indicates the amount of analyte present in the sample. Based upon the emission spectrum of an excited species that is formed in the course of a chemical reaction. Responds in proportion to number of carbon atoms in gas sample. Mass spectrometers use the difference in mass-tocharge ratio (m/z) of ionized atoms or molecules to separate them from each other. Sample absorbs infrared radiation and difference in absorption is measured.

Gravimetric

Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS)

Spectrophotometry

Chemiluminescence Gas chromatography (GC) - flame ionization detector (FID) Gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC-MS) Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)

NO2, O3

VOC

VOC

CO, VOC, CH4

SAMPLING DEVICES

HIGH VOLUME SAMPLER

CYCLONE COLLECTOR

SUMMA Canisters

SAMPLING DOCUMENT
It should include the follow Statement of sampling objectives Description of location Description of the sample to be taken Protocol Chain-of-custody records Identification of analysis methods

CHOOSE AN AIR SAMPLING METHOD

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Sample Preservation & Storage

Purpose minimize physical, chemical and biological changes
3 approaches:

Use of proper sample container Refrigeration Addition of preserving chemicals

Use of Proper Sample Container

Container choice (material type and headspace) is critical to reduce

Volatilization Adsorption Absorption Diffusion Photo degradation

Refrigeration is a universally accepted method to slow down loss processes

Addition of preservatives is critical to reduce losses due to chemical reactions and bacterial degradation

PROBLEMS
Interactions Thermal desorption (Volatile) Photochemical reactions Sample size (Homogeneity & Heterogeneity) Sample Preservation may not stabilize the sample. Loss of Volatile samples Contamination

CONCLUSION
Air quality monitoring helps us in better understanding the sources, levels of different air pollutants, effects of air pollution control policy, and exposure of various substances in the air we breathe. Air quality monitoring program assists us in improving and developing air pollution control programs to reduce the effect of air pollution. The purpose of air monitoring is not merely to collect data, but also to provide the information necessary for engineers, scientists, policy makers, politicians and planners to make informed decisions on managing and improving the air environment.

References
E-Books: Approved Methods for the Sampling and Analysis of Air Pollutants , Department of Environment and Conservation NSW (DEC). Guidelines for the Measurement of Ambient Air Pollutants Volume-I,CPCB. Text Book for Sampling for Environmental Monitoring , Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center, Japan. LINKS http://www.epa.gov/airquality/ www.calscience.com www.airtoxics.com