I want to measure ozone, NOx, SOx, Co and Particulate matter in the ambient air. The sampling sites are more than 20. For this, I want to purchase an air sampler. I would like to know what should be the better option high volume sampler or portable air sampler for ambient air monitoring. If a portable air sampler, which model should I purchase?
La alta variabilidad de las mediciones en campo, según las horas y dias, recuerde que deben ser muestreos de largos periodos y estaciones del año.
Hi Gulshan,
Your question should include the purpose of the measurements. Are they meant for random sampling, is traffic management your aim, are your measurements meant to assess possible exceedances of limit values on an annual base etc. Because whatever your strategy will be, that will influence your choice for apparatus, be it standard instruments in a network, or mobile measurements on a bike with low-cost sensors? Please find some thoughts here:
http://www.integrated-assessment.eu/eu/sites/default/files/Representativeness%20of%20monitoring%20networks.pdf
Dear Marcel Severijnen, I would like to measure gaseous and PM content in the ambient air around the stone mining industries.
Hi Gulshan,
Measurements at 20 sites around stone mining industries with reference instruments will be very costly. I imagine that the particles emitted are mostly large, >10 µm and that might cause nuisance, but then you are more interested in PM10 or PM2.5 I guess?
Most PM load will occur downwind from the mining site. If that’s so, I would advise to start finding a suitable measurement site downwind in the neighborhood. Start measurements with a low-cost sensor, which you can compare at the site for a while (a month or so) with a standard reference apparatus, because stone dust may have different physical properties than urban dust. Choose a mobile type for your reference apparatus, that’s easier if you want to use it elsewhere.
For the gaseous components I would prefer low-cost sensors too. They are available for all your chosen components and have become more trustworthy these days. And if you can compare them with standard equipment or with an chemical analyses in a laboratory or field experiment, they can be used very well, even for assessing possible exceedances of limit values. There’s a lot of information on internet on the status of low-cost sensors.
Marcel Severijnen So as per your suggestions, I should go for a portable gas analyser as compared to a high volume sampler. If so, may I know which company portable gas analyser would be accurate and precise? Actually, I have contacted several dealers and now I am confused that which instrument should I buy? Similarly for PM also what should I purchase
Hi Gulshan,
I'm not in a position to recommend which instrument you should choose. But in any case you should ask a potential provider of portable equipment for a certificate that shows a reliable relation between the output of the apparatus and a standard reference method, or calibrated gas for gaseous components.
As to sensors, such a comparison must be made at the measurement location, including some meteorological data as relative humidity and temperature.
Again, as I wrote before, try to develop a measurement plan, a strategy that gives you the maximum of information for the purpose of your measurements. And keep in mind that this kind of monitoring is usually not cheap. The strategy will decide which kind of monitoring equipment you will need. If your research is not used to determine for instance exceedances of ambient limit values, than I would suggest to turn fully to sensors, without assistance of stationary or portable equipment, or calibration gases. You can then use the built-in calibration or data from the provider. The sensors will give you a pretty good impression of what ambient levels will be.
For some more background see also: Article Stationary and portable multipollutant monitors for high-spa...
You can buy Sampler (Envirotech APM 550 mini) For
Fine particulate matter and PM 1 Sampler is (Envirotech APM 577M) This a high Volume Sampler
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