• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.129-134
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• 2014

We have developed a cost-effective and facile method to manufacture a pouch-type chemical vapor sampler. Originally, the sampler was developed by U. S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development, and Engineering Center(NSRDEC) to determine the protective capability of individual protective ensembles or Man-in-Simulant Test (MIST). They used a selectively permeable high density polyethylene(HDPE) as front membrane and aluminum/ Nylon barrier film as an impermeable back sheet in order to mimic the actual adsorption process that occurs when the skin is exposed to chemical weapons. However, it costs over twenty dollars per sampler and the minimum of quantity is 2500 per order. In addition, it is inconvenient to employ a variety of adsorbents into the sampler, which could prevent MIST researchers to do various tests for development of MIST methodologies. Here, we report the simple method to manufacture the sampler in a laboratory scale. All the materials we used are easily obtainable and inexpensive. In addition, all the procedures we perform are generally known. We used methyl salicylate(MeS) vapor to be adsorbed into the sampler and employed several different adsorbents to evaluate the performance of samplers. The results obtained by home-made samplers and commercially avaliable one showed no significant differences. Also, MeS vapor was selectively adsorbed into the sampler depending on adsorbents. We conclude that home-made samplers are capable of collecting any kind of chemical vapor for a variety of purposes.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.387-394
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• 2015

We have recently developed a cost-effective and pouch-type chemical vapor sampler which consists of a selectively permeable high density polyethylene(HDPE) membrane, aluminum/nylon barrier film, and adsorbents. Since the sampler mimics the actual adsorption process that occurs when the skin is exposed to chemical vapors, it can be applied to man-in-simulant test(MIST) to determine the protective capability of individual protective ensembles for chemical warfare agents. In this study, we describe the manufacturing process of samplers and results for performance testing on MIST. Methyl salicylate(MeS) is used to simulate chemical agent vapor and the vapor sampler was used to monitor chemical concentration of MeS inside the protective suit system while worn. Values of protection factors(PF) were also analyzed to provide an indication of the protection level of the suit system evaluate by MIST. The results obtained by home-made samplers(ADD samplers) and commercially avaliable ones(Natick samplers) showed no significant differences.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.500-509
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• 2009

Passive samplers have been used for many years for the sampling of organic vapors in work environment atmospheres. Currently, all passive samplers used in domestic occupational monitoring are foreign products. This study was performed to evaluate variable parameters for the development of passive organic samplers, which include the geometry of the device and diffusive length for the sampler design. Four prototype diffusive lengths; A-1(4.5 mm), A-2(7.0 mm), A-3(9.5 mm), A-4(12.0 mm) were tested for adsorption performances to a chemical mixture (benzene, toluene, trichloroethylene, and n-hexane) according to the US-OSHA's evaluation protocol. A dynamic vapor exposure chamber developed and verified by related research was used for this study. The results of study are as follows. The results in terms of sampling rate and recommended sampling time test indicate that the most suitable model was A-3 (9.5 mm diffusive lengths on both sides) for passive sampler design in time weighted average (TWA) assessment. Sampling rates of this A-3 model were 45.8, 41.5, 41.4, and 40.3 ml/min for benzene, toluene, trichloroethylene, and n-hexane, respectively. The A-3 models were tested on reverse diffusion and conditions of low humidity air (35% RH) and low concentrations (0.2 times of TLV). These conditions had no affect on the diffusion capacity of samplers. In conclusion, the most suitable design parameters of passive sampler are: 1) Geometry and structure - 25 mm diameter and 490 $mm^2$ cross sectional area of diffusion face with cylindrical form of two-sided opposite diffusion direction; 2) Diffusive length - 9.5 mm in both faces; 3) Amount of adsorbent - 300 mg of coconut shell charcoal; 4) Wind screen - using nylon net filters (11 ${\mu}m$ pore size).

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 1997

Toluene, n-hexane, and methyl ethyl ketone(MEK) were exposed to the activated carbon fiber(ACF) and 3M(Model 3500) diffusive samplers under low and high humidity levels. In order to evaluate these two samplers, the sampling capacity, sampling rate, reverse diffusion, and storage stability were obtained. At low humidity level($8{\pm}3%RH$), the adsorption amount of all three organic vapors to the ACF diffusive sampler showed a positive linear relationship up to 8 hours. However, at high humidity level($90{\pm}5%RH$), n-hexane and MEK maintained a positive linear relationship up to 1.5 hrs, but decreased in their adsorption amounts afterwards. On the other hand, the adsorption amount of n-hexane, MEK, and toluene to 3M diffusive sampler showed almost a positive linear relationship up to 8 hours at both humidity levels. At low humidity level, there was almost no reverse diffusion for both 3M and ACF diffusive samplers. However, when the ACF diffusive sampler was used at high humidity level, there was about 52.63% of MEK sample loss and about 92.59% of n-hexane sample loss. The storage stabilities of the ACF and 3M diffusive samplers were both relative stable except for MEK. In the case of MEK, the difference between the analysis of the organic vapor right after the sampling and that of 3 weeks later at room temperature was 45% for the ACF diffusive sampler and 18% for the 3M diffusive sampler. Since the storage stability of the samples stored in a refrigerator was relatively stable, they need to be refrigerated until the analysis is done.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.151-159
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• 1994

The portable gas chromatography system was developed which was consisted of ambient vapor sampler(AVS), short capillary column(3 m long, 0.32 mm i.d. GC(SCCGC), photoionization detector (PID) and vacuum pump which was operated at subambient pressure. The seletion of capillary column was based on the theoretical calculation from Golay equation. The pressure ratio of column inlet and outlet appropriated between 1.03 and 1.2 in the system. The available column flow were 0.87∼4.63 ml/min at the pressure ratios. The AVS consisted of three concentric tubes and enables rapid, repetitive introduction of vapor samples directly into capillary column and showed good reproducibility. The subambient column outlet pressure with PID resulted in a significant increase in the optimum column flow, permitting rapid analysis. The baseline separation of m-xylene and o-xylene was able to within 40 second with the system. Parameters affecting the column resolving power were sampling duration, column length and diameter, and the pressure ratio. Effects of these parameters were investigated using bezene derivative compounds.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.118-127
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• 2007

Between June and November 2002, the atmospheric concentrations and dry deposition fluxes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Chonju were measured four times each over five days. The total concentration of PAHs in ambient air was $84\;ng/m^3$, with about 90% existing in the vapor phase. Plots of log ($K_p$) vs. log (${P_L}^0$) indicated that PAHs partitioning was not in equilibrium and the particulate characteristics did not change with seasonal variations. The PAHs fluxes to a water surface sampler (WSS) and a dry deposition plate (DDP) were about 14.15 and $1.92\;{\mu}g/m^2/d$, respectively. The flux of the gaseous phase, acquired by subtracting the DDP from the WSS results, was about $12.23\;{\mu}g/m^2/d$. A considerable correlation was shown between the atmospheric concentrations and deposition fluxes in the gaseous phase, but not in the particulate phase, as the fluxes of the particulate phase were dependent on the physical velocity differences of the particulates based on the particle diameter.