A novel enhanced diffusion sampler for collecting gaseous pollutants without air agitation. Issue 8 (3rd July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pan, Xuelian; Zhuo, Shaojie; Zhong, Qirui; Chen, Yuanchen; Du, Wei; Cheng, Hefa; Wang, Xilong; Zeng, Eddy Y.; Xing, Baoshan; Tao, Shu
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental science and health. Volume 53:Issue 8(2018)
• Page Start: 766
• Page End: 770
• Publication Date: 2018-07-03
• Subjects: Sampler -- PAHs -- air-to-surface exchange; Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Ecology -- periodicals; Hazardous Substances -- periodicals; 628
• DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2018.1444973
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1093-4529

Abstract

ABSTRACT: A novel enhanced diffusion sampler for collecting gaseous phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) without air agitation is proposed. The diffusion of target compounds into a sampling chamber is facilitated by continuously purging through a closed-loop flow to create a large concentration difference between the ambient air and the air in the sampling chamber. A glass-fiber filter-based prototype was developed. It was demonstrated that the device could collect gaseous PAHs at a much higher rate (1.6 ± 1.4 L/min) than regular passive samplers, while the ambient air is not agitated. The prototype was also tested in both the laboratory and field for characterizing the concentration gradients over a short distance from the soil surface. The sampler has potential to be applied in other similar situations to characterize the concentration profiles of other chemicals.