Evaluation of the El Paso method for measuring volatile organic compounds from industrial cooling waters

Abstract

AbstractControlled laboratory experiments were conducted to measure highly reactive volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in industrial cooling waters using four different sampling methods. The sampling methods included collection of samples from the exhaust air of the El Paso column in Summa® canisters and Tedlar™ bags, and collection of samples from the water flow immediately prior to entering the El Paso column in volatile organic analysis vials and 0.5‐L Tedlar bags. Collected samples were analyzed using standard laboratory techniques. Relative accuracies of the methods involving collection of water samples in volatile organic analysis vials and 0.5‐L Tedlar bags were greater than 20%. Relative accuracies of the methods involving collection of gas samples from the El Paso column in Summa canisters and Tedlar bags were less than 20% when concentrations of these compounds in water were equal to or greater than 50 ppbw. Relative accuracies of these methods were less than 10 ppbw when concentrations of these VOCs in water were less than 50 ppbw. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2008