Degree Type

Thesis

Date of Award

2017

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Major

Environmental Science

First Advisor

Jacek A. Koziel

Abstract

Finding rugged and farm-proven sampling methods for odor measurement and mitigation of emissions continues to be a challenge. The objective was to develop a new method to quantify odorous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air. The main goal was to transform a fragile lab-based technology into a sampler that can be deployed for longer periods of time in remote locations. The developed method uses improved solid-phase microextraction (SPME) for combined on-site air sampling and sampling preparation. No power source is needed, and the technique is solvent-less. SPME fiber is exposed inside a protective glass liner. Thus, extraction of odorants is controlled by diffusion. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry is used for sample analysis in the laboratory. Acetic acid was chosen as a model compound to prove the concept. In the new method, extraction of acetic acid had a linear relationship with extraction time (R2<0.99). The Car/PDMS 85 µm fiber was shown to have better sensitivity for acetic acid. The effects of glass liner condition and diffusion path length on mass extraction were studied. The new method was evaluated under field conditions by comparing it to the standard method (sorbent tubes) in four different locations. This research shows that SPME fiber retracted inside a glass liner is a low-cost, simple, yet accurate sampling technique for quantification of odorous VOCs.

Copyright Owner

Madina Tursumbayeva

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

File Size

52 pages

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