EXPERIMENT 3: AIR SAMPLING PUMP (AMBIENT)

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The process of air sampling is used to identify the presence of airborne pollutants in an area. It
involves capturing the pollutant from a known volume of air, measuring the quantity collected,
and expressing the amount captured as a concentration. The flow rate of air through the
collecting medium, the sample run duration, and the amounts of pollutants collected are the
three essential metrics required for the operation. The most frequent way is to pull a volume of
air through a collecting device, such as a sampler, situated in the worker's breathing zone using
a battery-powered pump. In businesses with high amounts of airborne pollutants, such as
firefighting, chemical manufacturing facilities, building sites, coal mining enterprises, and
research laboratories, air monitoring is essential. It assists businesses in measuring air quality,
determining safety precautions, and monitoring employees' exposure to airborne toxins. There
are two forms of air sampling: static air sampling, which collects samples of air from the
surrounding environment, and personal air sampling, which takes samples of air that one person
interacts with.

The importance of air sampling stems from the fact that inhaled airborne pollutants can induce
respiratory impairments, making it critical for employee health and safety. The pump used for
air sampling should be capable of drawing air through the sampler at the required flow rate for
a set time period and constantly maintain that flow rate regardless of fluctuations in temperature
or back pressure. Calibration of the air flow rate through the sampling system is important and
should be checked before and after every sample is taken. Air sampling is a crucial process for
determining the presence of airborne contaminants in various environments, and it plays a
significant role in maintaining air quality and ensuring the safety of workers in different
industries.

2.0 OBJECTIVE
 To evaluate the exposure of airborne and particulates matters to the workers.
 To determine the concentration and level of risk that worker expose to and control.
 To comply with the air quality regulations and standards under OSHA 1994 and ICOP.
3.0 MATERIALS AND APPARATUS
1. Sampler
a. Filter
b. cyclone
2. Personal sampling pump
3. Balance, analytical with sensitivity of 0.001 mg.
4. Weights
5. Forceps

4.0 PROCEDURES

SAMPLER PREPARATION BEFORE SAMPLING:

1. The filters had been equilibrated for a minimum of 2 hours in an oven with
controlled environmental conditions.

Figure 4.1(a) The Filters in Oven.

2. The filters were weighed in a controlled setting or chamber, with attention to the
filter tare weight (mg). Note that the balance was zeroed before each weighing,
forceps were used for handling the filter (nylon forceps if additional analyses were
 to be conducted), and the filter was placed in front of an anti-static radiation source
to prevent static electricity-induced errors in weight measurements.

Figure 4.1(b) The Filter was Weighing.

3. The filters were placed in the filter cassettes and securely sealed to prevent leakage
around the filter. A plug was inserted into each filter cassette aperture.
4. Before the cyclone was used, the grit cover was removed, and the interior of the
cyclone was checked. To prevent reentrainment of large particles, the interior of the
cyclone was cleaned.
5. The filter cassettes were labelled.
6. The sampler head was assembled, ensuring proper alignment of the filter holder and
cyclone to prevent leakage.

SAMPLER PREPARATION DURING SAMPLING:

7. With a representative sampler in line, each personal sampling pump was calibrated
to the proper flow rate. The cyclone outlet was linked to the vessel's outlet port, and
the vessel outlet was connected to the pump.
 Figure 4.0 Participant of Air Sampling Pump

8. Samples were collected in 30 minutes. The dust loading on the filter was less than
2 mg.

SAMPLER PREPARATION AFTER SAMPLING:

9. The top and bottom plugs were removed from the filter cassette, and it was
equilibrated for a minimum of 2 hours in an environmentally controlled area or
chamber.
10. Using the same microbalance, weighing the filter after the sample taken.

CALIBRATION AND QUALITY CONTROL:

11. The microbalance was zeroed before all weighing, utilizing the same microbalance
for weighing filters both before and after sample collection. The balance was
calibrated using National Institute of Standards and Technology Class S-1.1 or
ASTM Class 1 weights.
12. A set of replicate field samples was exposed to the same dust environment, either
in a laboratory dust chamber. Quality control samples were taken using the identical
equipment, procedures, and personnel employed in routine field samples. Precision
 was calculated from these replicates, and the relative standard deviation was
recorded on control charts. Corrective action was taken when the precision was5
out of control.

MEASUREMENT:
13. Each filter, including field blanks, was weighed. The post-sampling weight (mg)
was recorded alongside its corresponding tare weight. Any notable observations
about a filter (e.g., visible particles, overloading, leakage, wet, torn, etc.) were also
documented.

CALCULATIONS:
14. Calculate the concentration of respirable particulate, (mg/m³), in the air volume
sampled, (L):

W1 = tare weight of filter before sampling (mg)

W2 = post-sampling weight of sample-containing filter (mg)
B1 = mean tare weight of blank filters (mg)
B2 = mean post-sampling weight of blank filters (mg)
V = volume as sampled at the nominal flow rate (i.e., 1.7 L/min or
2.2 L/min)

5.0 RESULT AND DISCUSSION

AVERAGE
Before
Average = 9.5+9.1+8.7
3
= 9.1
After
Average = 11.1+12.2+12.4
3
= 11.9
 W1 = tare weight of filter before sampling (mg)
W2 = post-sampling weight of sample-containing filter (mg)
B1 = mean tare weight of blank filters (mg)
B2 = mean post-sampling weight of blank filters (mg)
V = volume as sampled at the nominal flow rate (i.e., 1.7 L/min or
2.2 L/min)

C = (11.9-9.1) (0-0) X 10 ³, mg/m ³

1.7 L/min
= (2.8) – (0) X 10 ³, mg/m ³
1.7 L/min
= 1.647 mg/m ³

Based on the calculation above from the air sampling pump, the concentration is exceeding
the acceptable limit of ICOP IAQ 2010 (0.15 mg/m ³), which is at 1.647 mg/m ³. However,
based on OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL), the exposure limits of respirable
particulates of PEL/TWA are at 5 mg/m ³, which in below the maximum exposure limit. This
might be due to human error and environmental. The sampling is conduct during the rain, so it
increased the respirable particulates enter from outdoor to indoor. Furthermore, the improper
hygiene led to the high of concentration of respirable particulates.
PVC filters are typically used for gravimetric studies because they are more durable. MCE
filters, on the other hand, are particularly useful for checking for metals during sampling.

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) MCE (Mixed Cellulose Ester)

1. Material Composition
 Made from a type of plastic known as  Composed of cellulose acetate and
polyvinyl chloride. cellulose nitrate.
 Frequently used for sampling  High porosity and are typically
airborne particulates in situations employed when samples are intended
where chemical compatibility with for future microbial analysis.
plastic is not an issue.
2. Chemical Compatibility
 Maybe more chemically resistant  MCE filters are frequently used when
than cellulose-based filters chemical compatibility with cellulose
 Suitable for sampling particles that is not an issue.
may have chemical interactions with  When collecting biological particles
cellulose materials. such as bacteria or fungi is the
purpose.
3. Applications
 PVC filters are adaptable and can be  MCE filters are frequently employed
utilised for a wide range of in air sampling applications to catch
particulate sample applications. biological particles.
 Particularly when non-biological  It is frequently used in
airborne particles are of concern. microbiological air monitoring.
4. Porosity
 PVC filters may have less porosity.  MCE filters are known for their high
 Making them effective for capturing porosity.
microorganisms and other fine  Improving their ability to capture
particulates. microbes and other tiny particles.
Comparison of SidePax and Personal Air Sampling
SidePak Personal air sampling
Direct reading. Calculate the reading.
Brand of personal aerosol monitor produced An air sampling pump is a device that
by TSI Incorporated. collects air samples for a variety of
applications such as environmental
monitoring, industrial hygiene, and
occupational health studies.
It is a portable sensor designed to monitor These pumps are frequently used in
airborne particulate matter in real time. conjunction with specialised sample media
or devices in order to gather particles, gases,
or vapours from the air.
Often used to analyse worker exposure to High-flow pumps for collecting total
particle contaminants in industrial hygiene, particulate matter and low-flow pumps for
workplace monitoring, and environmental sampling specific pollutants are two types of
monitoring air sampling pumps.
Individuals often wear these monitors to Used to draw air through sampling media,
measure and record the concentration of enabling for further laboratory examination
airborne particles to which they are exposed of the collected samples.
during a given time period.

6.0 CONCLUSION

7.0 REFERENCES

Universal Air Sampling Pump - SKC Ltd. (n.d.). https://www.skcltd.com/images/pdfs/224-

UMTXM.pdf

Introduction to personal air sampling. Air Sampling Solutions. (n.d.).

http://airsamplingsolutions.com/index.php/introduction-to-personal-air-sampling/