Application of Advanced Sensor Technology to DoD Soil Vapor Intrusion Problems

This study demonstrated the use of a unique prototype gas chromatograph with sensor array detection, the analytical components of which are microfabricated from Si (micro-GC), for analysis of indoor air concentrations of trichloroethylene (TCE) at low- and sub ppb levels, related to vapor intrusion...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Reisinger, James H, Burris, David R, Zellers, Edward T
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
Air Pollution and Control
AUTOMATION
DEMONSTRATIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
FIELD TESTS
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
MICROSCALE GAS CHROMATOGRAPHERS
MICROSENSORS
MONITORING
MONITORS
PROTOTYPES
REMOTE DETECTION
Test Facilities, Equipment and Methods
TRICHLOROETHYLENE
VAPORS
VI(VAPOR INTRUSION)
VOC(VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND)
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Summary:This study demonstrated the use of a unique prototype gas chromatograph with sensor array detection, the analytical components of which are microfabricated from Si (micro-GC), for analysis of indoor air concentrations of trichloroethylene (TCE) at low- and sub ppb levels, related to vapor intrusion (VI) applications. The objectives of this study were to demonstrate the performance of the prototype micro-GC in two operating modes: portable mode for forensic and spatial monitoring; and fixed location mode for longer term temporal monitoring (exposure estimation). Results from the micro GC and from TO -15 reference samples were compared. Above the mitigation action level (MAL; 2.3 ppb), the micro-GC accurately determined TCE under complex field matrix conditions. Below the MAL, TCE micro GC determinations were positively biased due to unresolved interferences. This study stands as the first of its kind, where micro-GC instrumentation was shown capable of sustained, reliable, automated measurements of a trace-level component (TCE) in a complex VOC mixture in real-world environments. Prepared in cooperation with the School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Ml. Engineering Research Centers Program of the National Science Foundation under Award Number ERC-9986866 (University of Michigan s Center for Wireless Integrated MicroSystems) also supported this project. The micro-fabricated devices described in this report were made at University of Michigan's Lurie Nanofabrication Facility, a member of the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network, which is supported by the National Science Foundation. The original document contains color images.