Use of Electrolytically Generated Hydrogen as a Purge Gas for the Isolation of Volatile Organic Compounds from Groundwater

Abstract

Abstract A device has been developed for use in determining parts per billion concentrations of volatile organic compounds in groundwater. This device is suitable for field use either as a self-contained, portable instrument or as an unattended monitor. The device consists of an immersible electrolysis cell in which hydrogen is generated. This hydrogen efficiently purges volatile organic compounds from water. Those volatile organic compounds are carried by the purge gas to a photoionization detector where their total concentration is measured. The significant advantages of this apparatus for use in the determination of volatile organic compounds include: 1) measurements are made in a hydrogen matrix which is free of interfering species present in water; 2) detection limits for volatile organic compounds are several orders of magnitude lower when compounds are purged from water than when they are measured in the headspace above water; 3) operation of this device does not require use of reagents or utilitie...