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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #72459
Title: AUTOMATED SWITCHING SYSTEM FOR SAMPLING VOLATILE CHEMICALS

Author
item ERNST, F. - U.C. RIVERSIDE
item Yates, Scott
item Wang, Dong
item GAN, J. - U.C. RIVERSIDE

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: An automated system for collecting organic vapors is shown and described. In this system, a data logger is used to control multiple series of solenoid valves attached to a manifold which is connected to the vapor source. The program in the data logger turns on the solenoid valves sequentially so the target atmosphere is sampled continuously for fixed time intervals. The data logger is also able to automatically monitor and record the air flow rates through the samplers via electronic flow meters. The system may be easily modified to accommodate different numbers of sources and sampling intervals. Such a system is very convenient for overnight sampling which is often difficult to accomplish manually. Due to accurate timing and increased sampling frequency, such a system also enhances the quality of monitoring. A four-manifold system was built and tested for collecting 1,3- dichloropropene and methyl bromide emissions from soil columns. The data are presented and compared with results from experiments that were manually sampled.