air sampling pumps
LCS Laboratory offers air sampling pumps, passive dosimeters, sampling tubes and laboratory analysis of several hundred Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). VOC is a generic term which is used to describe organic compounds with a boiling point from 0ºC to about 250ºC . This definition is not very precise and often assumes all measurable organic and even some inorganic compounds (CS2, CCl4, and other) found in air.
The most common sampling procedure for volatile organic compounds, is “Active Sampling”. In active sampling, VOC is collected on an adsorbent tube using an air sampling pump. Active sampling is the most accurate sampling procedure, which gives an Industrial Hygienist great control over the method sensitivity, and proof of the quality of the results. Active sampling is usually the method of choice when Air Quality is investigated for compliance purposes.
Diffusive Badge
“Passive Sampling” is based on controlled diffusion of vapors from ambient air into the adsorbent pad of the Diffusive Sampler. A Diffusive Sampler is also called a Diffusive Badge due to it resemblance to a visitor’s badge. Some advantages of passive sampling are: the light weight of the sampling device, overall cost of sampling is lower than active sampling, time saving, the ability to provide massive surveys with hundred samplers used at once, ability to collect day, week and even month long samples. Disadvantages: the sampling accuracy is not as good as in active sampling, diffusion rate depends on air velocity around the sampler and temperature, overall sensitivity of the sampling procedure is lover than in active sampling, quality control is not as good as in active sampling.
A comprehensive list of available active and diffusive tests for individual VOC’s can be found in our fee schedule. Some tests for Volatile Organic compounds are so new and are so hard to find, that we’d like to tell more about them in our articles:
If you need assistance with testing of individual solvents, or total VOC, please email us to discuss your project.
