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Using a Field-PortableGas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS)for Organic Vapor Identification and Quantification

Kirk Meekin, MSPH, CIH, and Mark Jankowski, MSPHIndustrial Hygiene and Safety Group (ESH-5)Los Alamos National LaboratoryP.O. Box 1663Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545LA-UR 99-5491

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The Hapsite™ is a commercially available field portable gas chromatograph/massspectrometer (GC/MS) made by Inficon of East Syracuse, NY.

Inficon’sHapsite

Sampling for VOC’s at a waste disposalpit borehole.

Hazardous waste drumsampling location.

The 35 lb. instrument can take direct volatile organic compund (VOC) air samples in thefield. The model used came configured with an isothermal GC with a 30m methyl siliconecolumn. The GC is used to seperate VOCs by boiling point. The VOCs are then speciated bythe quadrupole MS. In full scan mode the MS looks for compounds from 45 to 300 amus.In the MS only mode, the GC is bypassed and the sample is injected directly into the MS.

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Two individual cases demonstrate how this instrument, in conjunctionwith a photoionization detector (PID), aided in the field evaluationof unknown volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

First CaseA hazardous waste drum-opening operation.

The Waste Data Form for the drum only identified the contents as “alcohols”(Fig. 1). After opening the drum underneath ventilation, a PID with a 10.6-eVlamp displayed 450 ppm. A GC/MS reading taken concurrently with the PIDproduced the multipeak chromatogram (Fig. 2). Using the availablecalibration library, toluene and methylene chloride were quantified at 19 and109 ppm respectively.

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Figure 1. Waste Data Form for “alcohols”drum.

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Figure 2. “Alcohols” drum TIC.

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Figure 3. Peak #3 mass spectra and match from NIST MS Search (version 1.6d) in the PostAcquisition(PACQHAPS) program.

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Figure 4. Peak #3 mass spectra and match with structure from the NIST MS Search program.

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Figure 5. “Alcohols” drum TIC with peak identifications.

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Second CaseThe opening of a monitoring borehole.

The borehole ran directly below a closed waste disposal pit. Upon opening theborehole a 10.6-eV PID displayed readings of 60 to 90 ppm. As can be seenfrom the Cal/Quant report in Excel spreadsheet format (Fig. 7),tetrachloroethylene and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA) were found at 1 and 9 ppm.

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Figure 6. The TIC for the borehole sample.

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Figure 7. The Cal/Quant report for the borehole sample. Thisreport can be generated immediately after the end of a samplerun.

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In both cases, the results gave us the knowledge required to continue to workwithout unnecessary PPE or delays. The field-portable GC/MS, together with aPID provides the information necessary to quickly make the right health andsafety decisions when faced with unknown VOCs.

Conclusion

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We would like to thank the following individuals for their support and assistance in making theacquisition and operation of the instrument possible.

Bob Dodge, of the Environmental Stewardship Office (formerly our ESH Team Leader). Bob providedfunding for travel for the initial evaluation of the instrument, secured funds to hire Mark, and providingfunding for the ongoing operation costs of the instrument.

Dina Sassone, Industrial Hygiene Team Leader, Industrial Hygiene and Safety Group. Dina encouragedthe submission of a procurement proposal to the General and Indirect Recharge Equipment committee(GIRE), which was previously unknown to us. Dina also made it possible to hire Mark and providedmuch of the support and funding needed to do so.

John Kelly, Deputy Group Leader, Solid Waste Operations, Facility and Waste Operations Division. Johnprovided funds to help pay for Mark and funds to cover ongoing operation costs of the instrument.

1998 GIRE Committee members. We would like to thank them for approving the procurement proposal.

Robert Miller, Applications Specialist, Inficon Inc. We would like to thank Robert for his training andtechnical support on the HAPSITE.

Christy Flaming, Illustrator, IM-1 designed the poster layout. Stacey Perez, Illustrator, ESH-DO helpedwith the electronic file.

Originally presented at the 2000 AIHCE in Orlando, FL.

Acknowledgements

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