Automated Monitoring of Organic Ozone Depleting Substances and Greenhouse Gases.

Air Monitoring, Methods, and Technology
Oral Presentation

Prepared by E. Hachmeister
Markes International, Inc, 2355 Gold Meadow Way, Gold River, Sacramento, California, 95670, United States


Contact Information: [email protected]; 866-483-5684

ABSTRACT

In the study we look at the performance of commercially available, cryogen free, pre-concentrator systems coupled to GC-MS for background, urban and industrial monitoring of ozone depleting substances (ODS) and greenhouse gases (GHGs). ODS are a group of nearly 100 man-made chemicals. Due to their contribution to stratospheric ozone depletion certain classes have been phased out under the Montreal Protocol and its amendments. Monitoring of species with high ozone depletion potential (ODP) is very important to support this phase out and monitor releases from current industrial activity and “banks” where ODS are stored. GHGs are often measured in tandem with ODS and are classified based on their global warming potential (GWP). There is a lot of cross over as ODS are also typically high-GWP gases.
ODS monitoring must be accurate and sensitive. Pre-concentration of the sample is carried out using thermal desorption instruments, prior to analysis by GC-MS. Background measurements of ODS and GHGs are crucial to understanding global averages of key species. Measurement at background locations typically requires large volumes of air (2L) and samples should be taken directly from the atmosphere for high resolution data. This requires a specialised instrument developed for that purpose, the Markes MEDUSA.
However, release of man-made species are highest in urban areas/from industry. Monitoring in these locations doesn’t require the same level of sensitivity, costs or performance. Markes cryogen free pre-concentration systems enables key species to be measured at close to background levels (<1 ppt) from only 800mL of ambient air, which can be introduced to the system directly or from a canister. Data will be presented showing quality and sensitivity achieved for effective reporting of ODS and GHGs .