The P S Analytical G525S100 AIR SENTINEL

Active Air Sampling for the Determination of Mercury in Ambient Air

The PSA Air Sentinel is an unattended ambient air, active sampling device that provides sampling with an accurate air volume for mercury in air studies.

The ambient sample is actively carried over PSA’s gold Amasil™ traps to preconcentrate any Hg that may be present.  The air is actively pumped through the Air Sentinel using a calibrated micro vacuum pump. Depending on the location remoteness and other requirements the system may be powered by a using a DC power pack, or the integrated rechargeable battery pack with solar panel options. The Air Sentinel, compete with mercury trap (Amasil) and solar panel option is shown below.

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Once the sample is collected, the volume data downloaded, the AmasilTM gold traps are returned to the laboratory for analysis using the Sir Galahad (II) Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometer. The non-destructive analytical process is rapid (<5mins) and allows the gold traps to be reused for multiple deployments. This sampling approach will determine total gaseous mercury (TGM). Filtration media upstream of the Amasil trap will collect particulate mercury and oxidised forms of mercury. These may be digested and analyzed using the Millennium Merlin CV-AFS. 

                                                                                               

                                                                                           Sir Galahad II Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometer

Passive and Active Samplers

In remote locations passive samplers are commonly used and whilst these are very useful in some circumstances, they do have some limitations and challenges.

Sampling rates for passive samples are…

  1. uncertain and are influenced by changing temporal atmospheric conditions (temperature, pressure, humidity etc) making accurate volume calculations very difficult.

  2. Very low, requiring extended deployment times (often months on end) to collect sufficient Hg for analysis.

  3. Inadequate to record instances of, e.g. point source pollution events or volcanic activity, where a faster rate of collection and analysis is required

  4. Inadequate for particulate and oxidized Hg measurement

Key User Benefits of the Air Sentinel

  • Accurate sample flowrates are measured and logged allowing an accurate volume calculation. 

  • The volume calculations are unaffected by weather conditions or any power fluctuations.

  • Typical flow rate of 12L/h allows much greater mercury mass loading in a short time frame leading to

  • Larger & more comprehensive data sets

  • Lower measurement uncertainty due to larger and accurate sample volumes

  • Short and long-time event monitoring

  • Faster turnaround of analysis

  • Minimal maintenance required

  • Continuous sampling for 8 days without solar charging and extended sampling periods limits using solar panel charging

  • Easy deployment, installation and various panel mounting options

  • Compliant with USEPA, ASTM, iso and CEN methods

  • Low-cost entry to the technology

  • Ability to perform sampling for atmospheric speciation measurements including particulate and oxidized Hg

  • Field and easy flow calibration

  • Selectable sampling periods between minutes, hours, days and months.

  • Reusable Amasil collection traps

  • Weatherproof Cabinet suitable for harsh environments

  • Suitable for other air component measurements such as particulate matter, benzene, VOCs and Dioxins

Air Sentinel Applications

Some deployment examples are provided below.

  • Easy addition to current air monitoring stations

  • Remote outstation ambient air background data collection

  • Fence Line applications (smelting operations, petrochemical plants, thermal power production, recycling activities etc)

  • Government OH&S monitoring requirements

  • Monitoring of volcanic and other geological events. Drone mounting capability

 

If you require any further information on G525S100 Air Sentinel or any other application, please complete our Information Request Form.