Sampling/Analytical Method Evaluation for Ethylene Oxide Emission and Control Unit Efficiency Determinations

摘要

Radian Corporation, assisting the Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, performed a field evaluation of a method for sampling and analyzing ethylene oxide (EO) in the vent stream from a sterilization chamber and a dilute acid scrubber. The utility of the sampling method for measuring the efficiency of the control unit was also evaluated. The evaluated sampling and analysis procedure used semi-continuous direct sampling with on-line gas chromatographic analysis. Laboratory studies of the sampling method previous to the field test showed that semi-continuous direct sampling was capable of measuring EO emissions to within 11% of the expected value with a between-trial precision of 5 percent.