Air Pollution Sampling and
Measurement
-by
G.Naga Thulasi
Air quality monitoring
Sampling and measurement of air pollutants generally known
as ,“Air quality monitoring”.
It is an integral componenet of any air pollution control
programme.
Monitoring is important:
1.Air quality can be evaluated.
2.Information is helpful in implementing control measures for
reducing pollutant concentration to acceptable levels.
3.Assesing the effect of air pollution control strategies
Air quality measurement is undertaken in
two situations
1. Ambient air quality measurement
2. Stack monitoring
It provides information on the nature and quantities of
various pollutants that are emitted into the atmosphere.
Ambient Air Sampling
Objective
1.To obtain a genuine and representative sample
2.The sampling should be carried out long enough and at
a rate that allows collection of an analytically
measurable sample
Types Of Contaminant
• There are three types of contaminant according to their physical
properties:
Vapours
Gases
Particulates
Aerosols
Dusts
Fumes
Smokes
mist and fog
Sample collector
To collect gaseous pollutants To collect particulate matter
Grab Sampling Sedimentation
Absorption in liquid High volume filtration
Adsorption on solid Tape sampler
Freeze out sampling Impingement
Electrostatic precipitation
Thermal precipitation
Sample collectors grouped into two
catagories
1. Collection of gaseous air pollutants
2. Collection of particulate pollutants
Grab Sampling
• Air sample is collected by filling
an evacuated flask.
• plastic bags have been used for
grab sampling for storage of gas
and then subjected to analysis of
grabbled sample.
• Grab sample may be taken using
rigid wall containers
made from glass or stainless steel.
• These containers first evacuated
and then allow air to enter to fill
the container.
Absorption in Liquids
• Absorption of gaseous pollutants in
liquid medium is one of the most
common collecting air samples.
• To bring high contact of G-L impengers
device are used.
• Absorbent liquids is filled inside
impinger.
• If done with sampling
procedure ,particulat absorbent is then
desorbed into lab for analysis and then
conc of required gas is find out.
Adsorption on solid
• This method is based on the
tendency of gases to be
adsorbed on the surface of solid
materials.
• As the solid surface area
increases the adsorption
increases.
• Disadvantages:Desoption of
gases are complicated.
Freeze-out sampling
Freeze - out sampling contains Coolant Temp.attained (degree
celsius)
series of cold traps which being ice-water 0
used to condensate air ice-salt -21
pollutants from air. Dry ice and acetone -79
the traps are bought into liquid air -147
laboratory ,samples are removed liquid oxygen -183
and analysis be means of mass liquid nitrogen -196
spectroscopy ,gas spectroscopy
etc.
Sedimentation
used to collect settle able particulate that settle of the
atmosphere as a result of the gravitation force.
The sampler consists of simple dust jar fitted with a funnel.
a liquid is added to collector to prevent the solids blown
out fron the jar by air.
collected dust is evaporated to dryness and then weighing
in mg
sampling period is 30 days
High volume filtration
This method is for measurement of the mass conc of
suspended particulates smaller than 10 micrometer.
Also known as “Hi-Vol”.
The particulates are removed from the air sample by
suction apparatus through a porous filter where
particulates are depoisted
The glass fibre filter of porous size less than 0.1
micrometer is used
sampling period:24 hours
Air volume sucked:2000 cubic meter
Tape Sampler
• It has appearance that loks like a
reel to reel tape recorder.
• In this method known volume of
air is passed through a paper tape
which is advanced in discrete time
intervals from a supply reel to take
up reel.
• During sampling the tapr is held
stationary.sampling time 10min to
2hr depending upon amlount od
particulates.
Impingement
Based on the inertial technique in which particles are collected from the
high velocity air stream directed toward the obstacles placed across the
path of air stream.
particulates collide with the obstacle and air changes its direction.
If the obstacle are adhevive surface then particles are impacted on it and
this is known as “Dry inmingement”.
If obstacle is wet by any liquid then it is called “Wet impingement”.
Thermal Precipitation
Thermal precipitation is based on the parniciple that the particles move
towards the lower temperature region when subjected to a strong
temperature gradient.
The temperature gradients are normally of the order of 3000 C per cm
This technique is used to collect the particle of size 0.001 micrometer with
high efficiency.
Electrostatic precipitation
These precipitators are an electrically
charged to force radioactive particulatest
migrate out the air steam onto a collection
surface.
In this precipitators two electrodes are used
positive and negtive.
When the air stream with particulates pass
through thelectrodes particles pick up
negtive charge and migrate towards inner
post of the preipitators where got discharged
and deposted on the positive electrodes.
