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Pneumatic Focusing Gas Chromatography PFGC

Pneumatic Focusing Gas Chromatography PFGC. Robert O’Brien, Portland State Univ. & VOC Technologies The GC-in-a-PC Development funded by USEPA SBIR Phase 1 & 2 Grants. PFGC Pneumatic Focusing Gas Chromatography Automated, Internet Monitoring of VOCs.

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Pneumatic Focusing Gas Chromatography PFGC

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  1. Pneumatic Focusing Gas Chromatography PFGC Robert O’Brien, Portland State Univ. & VOC Technologies The GC-in-a-PC Development funded by USEPA SBIR Phase 1 & 2 Grants The GC-in-a-PC

  2. PFGC Pneumatic Focusing Gas Chromatography Automated, Internet Monitoring of VOCs The PFGC technology was developed with SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research) from the US Government: NIH (National Institutes of Health) & USEPA (Environmental Protection Agency. The technology has 5 US patents. The GC-in-a-PC

  3. Pneumatic Focusing Gas ChromatographyPrinciples and Applications • Take a large volume air sample (e.g. 300 cc) and compress it to high pressure (e.g. 600 psi). • This concentrates the sample 30x & condenses the water, which remains in the sample loop. • Inject directly on-column, maintained at 600 psi. • Build the whole thing inside a commercial PC. • Connect it to the internet. • Run it anywhere in the world from your office. The GC-in-a-PC

  4. PFGC Basic Principle Retention time (seconds)> Separate VOCs by Pneumatic Focusing GC The GC-in-a-PC

  5. Pneumatic Focusing Gas Chromatography: Features & Benefits Below is the 1st PFGC built in a tower PC in 2001 • PFGC Completely enclosed - standard PC case • MS Windows w/ sophisticated VOCTEC OS • Data taken remotely, analyzed, transmitted--anywhere in the world via the Internet. • Easy set up & calibration. • Two levels of peak identification and integration, semi-manual & fully automated • On-line training, debugging, control and performance monitoring. US Patent 6,865,926 The GC-in-a-PC

  6. Portland Air ToxicsA section of 30 or so successive chromatograms. isoPentane and Toluene have been integrated so far. Hourly chromatograms in Portland air 1500-3600 seconds The GC-in-a-PC

  7. Pneumatic Focusing Gas Chromatography: Features & Benefits Benzene from autos always present PCE rarely present • PFGC Completely enclosed - standard PC case • MS Windows w/ sophisticated VOCTEC software • Data taken remotely, analyzed, transmitted anywhere in the world via the Internet. • Easy set up & self-calibrating. • Very low cost per sample. • 24/7 automated analysis & alert. US Patent 6,865,926 The GC-in-a-PC

  8. Continuous 1-MonthToluene Record, NW Portland, Oregon USALow concentration period due to strong Pacific Ocean winds Hourly samples, 24 per day The GC-in-a-PC

  9. Benzene/Toluene ratio for one month, showing mostly automobile sources with occasional non-vehicular source. Each point an hourly sample Hourly samples, 24 per day The GC-in-a-PC

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  11. Comparison with Commercial VOC GCMS laboratory Benzene The GC-in-a-PC

  12. The GC-in-a-PC

  13. Correlation of BTEX (Benzene, Ethylbenzene & Xylenes) with Toluene in Portland, Oregon US. Most comes from autos in Portland Oregon which has stationary source controls and all BTEX have strong correlation. Toluene (ppb) The GC-in-a-PC

  14. Correlation of BTEX (Benzene, Ethylbenzene & Xylenes) with Toluene in Boise, Idaho USA. Boise does not have stationary source controls & BTEX correlation is weaker. Toluene (ppb) BTEX = Benzene Toluene Ethylbenzene Xylenes(3) The GC-in-a-PC

  15. Same Portland data shown on same scale as Boise in previous slide. Note much lower concentrations and good correlation with automobile source when stationary VOC sources are controlled in Portland but not Boise. Toluene (ppb) BTEX = Benzene Toluene Ethylbenzene Xylenes(3) The GC-in-a-PC

  16. Rack-Mounted (Pneumatic-Focusing Gas Chromatograph (PFGC) for VOC Measurement in Monitoring Station or industrial plant. The GC-in-a-PC

  17. Interior of the GC-in-a-PC PC Power Supply Sample Valve Flame Ionization Detector PC Mother Board PFGC Oven Hard Drive & Main Control Board Sample Pump Carrier & FID Gases Interior of Pneumatic-Focusing Gas Chromatograph PFGC The GC-in-a-PC

  18. Hourly daily chromatograms. Chromatograms start at midnight. A pollution episode starts about 2AM. A blank chromatogram (green) is done and then two calibrations (blue). After this the air becomes very clean again (yellow). The contamination in the blank run was due to a dirty sample line installed by the station technician. It was removed when the sample line was replace. The GC-in-a-PC

  19. Dual detector PFGC. One GC column, two detectors: FID (Flame Ionization Detector) & Agilent SCD (Sulfur Chemiluminescence Detector) To accommodate the SCD the case must be larger. PFGC SCD Calibration Gas Computer Monitor The computer allows the technician to operate the PFGC. The monitor is not necessary to run the PFGC over the Internet with the same screen in your office or lab. The GC-in-a-PC

  20. Automatic daily calibration, or on-demand over the internet. 1st chromatogram after midnight is calibration. Multiple VOCs at 10 ppb. One day PFGC chromatograms. Alberta OilSands The GC-in-a-PC

  21. Specification & Applications Concentration Range: 50ppt to 5000ppm depending on the configuration. Chemical volatility Range: C1 to C10 (Higher C available) Speciated VOCs or just Methane & Nonmethane Questions? Email obrienr@pdx.edu 1/7/2020 The GC-in-a-PC The GC-in-a-PC 21

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