1/16/2016The GC-in-a-PC 1 Pneumatic Focusing Gas Chromatography PFGC Robert O’Brien, Portland State Univ. & VOC Technologies The GC-in-a-PC Development funded by USEPA SBIR Phase 1 & 2 Grants Robert O’Brien, Portland State Univ. & VOC Technologies The GC-in-a-PC Development funded by USEPA SBIR Phase 1 & 2 Grants

1/16/2016 The GC-in-a-PC2 The PFGC technology was developed with SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research) from the US Government: NIH (National Institutes of Health) & USEPA (Environmental Protection Agency. The technology has 5 US patents. PFGC Pneumatic Focusing Gas Chromatography Automated, Internet Monitoring of VOCs

1/16/2016 The GC-in-a-PC3 Pneumatic Focusing Gas Chromatography Principles and Applications  Take a large volume air sample (e.g. 300 cc) and compress it to high pressure (e.g. 600 psi).  This concentrates the sample 30x & condenses the water, which remains in the sample loop.  Inject directly on-column, maintained at 600 psi.  Build the whole thing inside a commercial PC.  Connect it to the internet.  Run it anywhere in the world from your office.

1/16/2016 The GC-in-a-PC4 PFGC Basic Principle Separate VOCs by Pneumatic Focusing GC Retention time (seconds)>

1/16/2016 The GC-in-a-PC5 Pneumatic Focusing Gas Chromatography: Features & Benefits  PFGC Completely enclosed - standard PC case  MS Windows w/ sophisticated VOCTEC OS  Data taken remotely, analyzed, transmitted--anywhere in the world via the Internet.  Easy set up & calibration.  Two levels of peak identification and integration, semi-manual & fully automated  On-line training, debugging, control and performance monitoring. US Patent 6,865,926 Below is the 1 st PFGC built in a tower PC in 2001

1/16/2016 The GC-in-a-PC6 Portland Air Toxics A section of 30 or so successive chromatograms. isoPentane and Toluene have been integrated so far. Hourly chromatograms in Portland air seconds

1/16/2016 The GC-in-a-PC7 Pneumatic Focusing Gas Chromatography: Features & Benefits  PFGC Completely enclosed - standard PC case  MS Windows w/ sophisticated VOCTEC software  Data taken remotely, analyzed, transmitted anywhere in the world via the Internet.  Easy set up & self-calibrating.  Very low cost per sample.  24/7 automated analysis & alert. US Patent 6,865,926 Benzene from autos always present PCE rarely present

1/16/2016 The GC-in-a-PC8 Continuous 1-MonthToluene Record, NW Portland, Oregon USA Low concentration period due to strong Pacific Ocean winds Hourly samples, 24 per day

1/16/2016 The GC-in-a-PC9 Benzene/Toluene ratio for one month, showing mostly automobile sources with occasional non-vehicular source. Each point an hourly sample Hourly samples, 24 per day

1/16/2016 The GC-in-a-PC10

1/16/2016 The GC-in-a-PC11 Comparison with Commercial VOC GCMS laboratory Benzene

1/16/2016 The GC-in-a-PC12

1/16/2016 The GC-in-a-PC13 Correlation of BTEX (Benzene, Ethylbenzene & Xylenes) with Toluene in Portland, Oregon US. Most comes from autos in Portland Oregon which has stationary source controls and all BTEX have strong correlation. Toluene (ppb) 

1/16/2016 The GC-in-a-PC14 Correlation of BTEX (Benzene, Ethylbenzene & Xylenes) with Toluene in Boise, Idaho USA. Boise does not have stationary source controls & BTEX correlation is weaker. BTEX = Benzene Toluene Ethylbenzene Xylenes(3) Toluene (ppb) 

1/16/2016 The GC-in-a-PC15 Same Portland data shown on same scale as Boise in previous slide. Note much lower concentrations and good correlation with automobile source when stationary VOC sources are controlled in Portland but not Boise. BTEX = Benzene Toluene Ethylbenzene Xylenes(3) Toluene (ppb) 

1/16/2016 The GC-in-a-PC16 Rack-Mounted (Pneumatic-Focusing Gas Chromatograph (PFGC) for VOC Measurement in Monitoring Station or industrial plant.

1/16/2016 The GC-in-a-PC17 Interior of Pneumatic-Focusing Gas Chromatograph PFGC Interior of the GC-in-a-PC PC Power Supply Sample Valve Flame Ionization Detector PC Mother Board PFGC Oven Hard Drive & Main Control Board Sample Pump Carrier & FID Gases

1/16/2016 The GC-in-a-PC18 Hourly daily chromatograms. Chromatograms start at midnight. A pollution episode starts about 2AM. A blank chromatogram (green) is done and then two calibrations (blue). After this the air becomes very clean again (yellow). The contamination in the blank run was due to a dirty sample line installed by the station technician. It was removed when the sample line was replace.

1/16/2016 The GC-in-a-PC19 Dual detector PFGC. One GC column, two detectors: FID (Flame Ionization Detector) & Agilent SCD (Sulfur Chemiluminescence Detector) To accommodate the SCD the case must be larger. PFGC SCD Calibration Gas Computer Monitor The computer allows the technician to operate the PFGC. The monitor is not necessary to run the PFGC over the Internet with the same screen in your office or lab.

1/16/2016 The GC-in-a-PC20 One day PFGC chromatograms. Alberta OilSands 1 st chromatogram after midnight is calibration. Multiple VOCs at 10 ppb. Automatic daily calibration, or on-demand over the internet.

1/16/2016 The GC-in-a-PC21 1/16/2016 The GC-in-a-PC21 Specification & Applications Concentration Range: 50ppt to 5000ppm depending on the configuration. Chemical volatility Range: C1 to C10 (Higher C available) Speciated VOCs or just Methane & Nonmethane Questions?