Mobile VOC Monitoring on Vehicle and Aircraft Platforms

Air Monitoring, Methods, and Technology
Oral Presentation

Prepared by M. Abou-Ghanem, A. Koss, O. El Hajj, V. Pospisilova
TOFWERK, 2760 29th St 2E, Boulder, CO, 80301, United States


Contact Information: [email protected]; (720) 531-2529

ABSTRACT

Volatile organic and inorganic compounds (VOCs and VICs) are emitted into the atmosphere from natural and anthropogenic sources, degrading ambient air quality and posing risks to human health and the environment. Accurate, real-time measurement of their chemical composition, concentration, and rapid fluctuation is crucial for effective air quality management. TOFWERK’s Vocus chemical ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometers (CI-TOF-MS) offer exceptional sensitivity for instantaneous analysis of VOCs and VICs, with a compact design and lower power consumption ideal for mobile air quality monitoring.
In the first section of this presentation, we showcase the use of two Vocus CI-TOF instruments in a mobile laboratory van near three solid waste landfills in Colorado. The deployment featured two TOFWERK CI-TOF mass spectrometers, the Vocus Eiger and the Vocus B, each designed with unique reactors for targeting specific compounds. Together, these instruments identified hydrocarbons, oxygenated molecules, and chlorofluorocarbons emitted from landfills. In addition, our custom-developed software integrated data from the dual mass spectrometers, a Picarro H2S and CH4 analyzer, and meteorological readings from a weather station. This software framework facilitated the consolidation of diverse data sets into a single stream, enabling precise identification and attribution of different emission sources.
In the second section of this presentation, we demonstrate the application of TOFWERK’s Elf proton transfer reaction time-of-flight (PTR-TOF) for methane source apportionment during an aircraft campaign in the Colorado Front Range. This region is home to more than 40,000 active oil and natural gas wells and 200 concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOS), which can make methane source identification challenging. Here, we use VOC signatures obtained from an Elf PTR-TOF on aircraft platform to pinpoint methane source regions, including oil and gas wells and agricultural practices. Furthermore, we highlight the instrument’s capabilities to identify multiple methane sources in close geographic proximity by compositionally resolving VOCs within individual pollution plumes. This approach facilitates more accurate identification of methane emissions sources, which can be used to help ensure compliance of industries with local and federal regulations.