Grantee Research Project Results
A New Compact Portable Field Instrument for Continuous Real-Time Measurement of Trace Organic Air Pollution Emissions Using Jet-REMPI Mass Spectrometry
EPA Contract Number: EPD04060Title: A New Compact Portable Field Instrument for Continuous Real-Time Measurement of Trace Organic Air Pollution Emissions Using Jet-REMPI Mass Spectrometry
Investigators: Barnes, Rhett James
Small Business: OPOTEK Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: April 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005
Project Amount: $224,832
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (2004) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , SBIR - Monitoring
Description:
The goal of this research project is to develop a compact portable instrument for the measurement of trace hydrocarbon vapors with high sensitivity and high chemical selectivity using the jet-resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (jet-REMPI) technique. This technology already has been proven to be highly effective for the real-time measurement of complex mixtures of hydrocarbon vapors in the laboratory, but to date has required both a large time-of-flight mass spectrometer and a large, complex, and delicate high-resolution tunable ultraviolet (UV) laser system. By reducing the size and increasing the ruggedness of both the laser and mass spectrometer components, as well as constructing a rugged instrument package, OPOTEK, Inc., plans to deploy a field-portable instrument package for the first demonstration of the technology outside of the laboratory.
Phase I bench tests demonstrated that a very strong performance can be obtained utilizing a compact tunable UV laser system component. As the first step in miniaturizing the jet-REMPI instrument, detection sensitivities in the 200-500 ppt range were obtained for a variety of small aromatic compounds, including the benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene family. In addition, high chemical specificity was demonstrated in complex mixtures, including the ability to resolve isomers.
During Phase II, the system will be further miniaturized by incorporating a compact mass spectrometer. A prototype field instrument will be constructed combining the laser, mass spectrometer, and all support hardware in a compact portable instrument. This instrument will be tested both in the laboratory and at field sites.
The performance specifications for this prototype system make it ideal for a number of applications in which real-time field measurements are required, eliminating the need for lengthy sample preconcentration or chromatographic separation. These include real-time monitoring of the time-varying concentration of hazardous air pollutants in urban air, monitoring emissions in real time from both mobile and stationary sources, and rapid mapping of pollutant special distributions. The real-time data obtainable from the instrument also will be ideal for industrial process management, allowing continuous optimization of process parameters for peak efficiency. The technique particularly is powerful for industrial applications because measurements are rapid (several seconds). The instrument can make sensitive measurements even in the presence of high levels of contaminants. The system can rapidly measure the concentrations of many species without the need for reconfiguration.
Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, real-time measurement, trace organic air pollution, mass spectrometry, jet-resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization, jet-REMPI, ultraviolet laser, UV, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, hazardous air pollutants, HAPs., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, POLLUTANTS/TOXICS, Air Pollution Monitoring, air toxics, Environmental Chemistry, Chemicals, Monitoring/Modeling, Environmental Engineering, environmental monitoring, monitoring, field portable monitoring, air pollutants, Toluene, air pollution, air sampling, benzene, BETX, field deployable, hydrocarbons, Jet REMPI mass spectrometry, real time monitoring, atmospheric chemistryProgress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase I:
A New Compact Portable Field Instrument for Continuous Real-Time Measurement of Trace Organic Air Pollution Emissions Using Jet-REMPI Mass Spectrometry | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.