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Quality Control for Ambient Sampling of PCDD/PCDF from Open Combustion Sources
Citation:
Gullett, B., D. Tabor, A. Bertrand, AND A. Touati. Quality Control for Ambient Sampling of PCDD/PCDF from Open Combustion Sources. Heidelore Fiedler (ed.), CHEMOSPHERE. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 93(3):494-498, (2013).
Impact/Purpose:
This work examined field sampling conditions for open burning to determine limits on sampling procedures for determination of PCDD/PCDF.
Description:
Both long duration (> 6 h) and high temperature (up to 139o C) sampling efforts were conducted using ambient air sampling methods to determine if either high volume throughput or higher than ambient sampling temperatures resulted in loss of target polychlorinated dibenzodioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDDs/PCDFs) from a polyurethane foam (PUF) sorbent. Emissions from open burning of simulated military forward operating base waste were sampled using EPA Method TO-9A for 185 minutes duration using a filter/PUF/PUF in series combination. After a 54 m3 sample was collected, the sampler was removed from the combustion source and the second PUF was replaced with a fresh, clean PUF. An additional 6 h of ambient air sampling (171 m3) was conducted and the second PUF was analyzed to determine if the PCDD/PCDF transferred from the filter and the first PUF. Less than 4.4% of the initial PCDD/PCDF was lost to the second PUF. To assess the potential for blow off of PCDD/PCDF analytes during open air sampling, the mobility of spiked mono- to hepta-PCDD/PCDF standards across a PUF sorbent was evaluated from ambient to 145oC with total flows between 600 L and 2400 L. Lower molecular weight compounds and higher flow amounts increased release of the spiked standards consistent with vapor pressure values. At 600 L total sampled flow, the release temperature for 1% of the tetra-CDD (the lowest chlorinated homologue with a toxic compound) was 87 oC; increasing the flow four-fold reduced this temperature to 73 oC.
