Analysis of VOCs by EPA 524.4 with Nitrogen as Purge and Carrier Gas.

New Organic Monitoring Techniques
Oral Presentation

Presented by R. Marfil-Vega
Prepared by C. Hudson1, A. Weltz2, A. Schwab3
1 - Criterion Labs, 400 Street Rd., Bensalem, PA, 19020, United States
2 - Criterion Labs, 400 Street Rd, Bensalem, PA, 19020, United States
3 - Criterion Labs, 400 Street Rd, Bensalem, PA, 19020, United States


Contact Information: [email protected]; (215) 244-1300


ABSTRACT

The current helium crisis is driving environmental laboratories to evaluate the use of alternative carrier gases within the allowed modifications of current methods approved for compliance monitoring. Hydrogen is normally the gas of choice; however, some laboratories are hesitant to make the transition because of safety concerns. In this work, we demonstrated the suitability of using nitrogen as purge and carrier gas for the analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in accordance with EPA 524.4. We will present the performance comparison when using helium and nitrogen as carrier gases and the results from the successful validation of the method using nitrogen.