Transportable turnkey gas chromatograph/ion trap detector for field analysis of environmental samples.

摘要

We have developed two transportable gas chromatograph/ion trap detectors (GC/ITD) for the in-situ characterization of chemical waste sites. These instruments are based on a modular design and can be readily modified in the field for air, water, or soil sampling. A purge-and-trap GC is used for the separation of volatile organic compounds before their introduction to the ion trap for mass spectral analysis. A secondary, or daughter, microprocessor controls ancillary hardware by means of the ion trap software. Most analyses are accomplished in an automated 20-min procedure. The detection limit for trichloroethylene in water is in the low part-per-trillion range. The analysis of soil and water samples is demonstrated by using surrogate samples spiked with 24 volatile organic compounds. The first instrument has been used under field conditions for soil analysis at a chemical waste site. The second-generation instrument differs from the first in the extensive use of commercially available equipment. The second-generation instrument will be briefly described here and some preliminary comparisons will be made to the first instrument. 11 refs., 8 figs., 2 tabs.