• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.200-208
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• 2012

Objectives: This study investigated the performance of three separate units of a portable photoionization detector (PID, ppb-RAE 3000) for measuring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a laboratory. Methods: A laboratory evaluation of the accuracy, precision, and inter-instrumental variance of three separate units of a portable PID (ppb-RAE 3000) was performed. The evaluation was based on the preparation of a test air sample of known toluene or ethylacetate concentration in a Tedlar$^{(R)}$ bag. The test air sample was monitored and data were logged consecutively by the three PIDs. A certified gas of 50 ppm toluene was also monitored during the test to ensure the reliability of the generated test air sample. Four different concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 2 TLV were used and a series of five measurements for each concentration level was performed. The accuracy was evaluated using National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) criteria. Results: The results from the oldest ppb-RAE3000 unit among the three test units generally fell outside the NIOSH recommended accuracy criteria of ${\pm}25%$, whereas the other two units produced results which were acceptable at, or greater than, 25 ppm of toluene, or 0.5 TLV. These units also met the NIOSH criteria for some ethylacetate measurements but the results were not consistent. Conclusions: Considering the inconsistent performance of these ppb-RAE 3000 units, this device may not be appropriate for use as an alternative to the standard measurement methods. However, it can serve good survey instruments to identify exposure sources or concentration profiles. For all applications, the ppb-RAE 3000 should be used with frequent calibration checks, additional validation using a reference material, and careful maintenance.

• 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.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.3-9
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• 1998

This paper presents soil-gas surveying technique to delineate an area contaminated with volatile organic compounds, which are common solvents and constituents of gasoline. The sampling method of soil-gas surveying is 1) grab sampling, which actively takes sample using a pump, or 2) passive sampling, which takes sample through diffusion in a trap filled with absorbent. The grab sampling shows the level of contamination at a certain location at a certain time, while the passive sampling shows the change in the contamination at a certain location. The analysis of soil gas can be performed with 1) a small portable detectors such as PID (photoionization detector) or FID (flame-ionization detector) to measure the total hydrocarbon in the soil gas, 2) a gas detector tube, which is filled with indicator reagents and changes its color with concentrations of the gas of interest, or 3) a portable GC (gas chromatograph), which can analyze different compounds simultaneously. The soil-gas surveying technique is a much less expensive method to investigate area contaminated volatile organic compounds and thus can be used as a screening tool to identify an area, which needs to be further investigated.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2024

Objectives: Direct reading instruments (DRIs) are widely used by industrial hygienists and other experts for preliminary survey and identifying source locations in many industrial fields. Photoionization detectors (PIDs), which are a form of hand-held portable DRIs, have been used for a variety of airborne vaporized chemicals, especially evaporated hydrocarbon solvents. The benefits of PIDs are high sensitivity between each chemical, competitive price, and portability. With the goal of increasing the accuracy of logged PID concentrations, previous studies have performed tests for the assessment of single chemical compounds, not mixtures. The purpose of this preliminary study was to measure mixtures with a PID and charcoal tube at the same time and compare the accuracy between them. Methods: A chamber test was implemented with different mixtures of hydrocarbon chemicals (acetone, isopropyl alcohol, toluene, m-xylene) and levels in the range of 14 to 864 ppm. Three PIDs and charcoal tubes were connected to the chamber and measured the chemical mixtures simultaneously. A comparison of accuracy and the PID group of concentrations with manufacture correction factor (M_CF) and field correction factor (F_CF) applied was performed. Results: The accuracy of the PID concentrations data-logged from the PID did not meet the accuracy criteria except for the mixture level B and C logged from PID No. 2, which was 18% of all tests for meeting accuracy criteria. The mean and standard deviation (SD) of concentration (ppm) of the charcoal tube followed by each mixtures' level were 10.37±0.26, 155.33±5.28, 300.80±11.65, and 774.93±22.65, respectively. When applying F_CF into the PID concentrations, the accuracy increased by nearly 82%. However, in the case of M_CF, none met the accuracy criterion. Between the PID there were differences of logged concentrations. Conclusions: In this preliminary study, the concentration of a logged PID with F_CF applied was a better way to increase accuracy compared to applying M_CF. We suggest that additional research is necessary to consider environmental factors such as temperature and humidity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.301-306
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• 2016

Objectives: Direct-reading instrument(Photoionization detectors, PID) and quantitative analysis using active type air sampling (Gas chromatography-flame ionization detector, GC-FID) were tested to evaluate their ability to detect volatile organic compounds(VOCs) in a semiconductor manufacturing plant. Methods: The organic compounds used were acetone and ethanol which are normally used as cleaning solutions in the semiconductor manufacturing. The evaluation was based on the preparation of test solutions of known acetone and ethanol concentration in a chamber($600{\times}600{\times}1150mm$). Samples were prepared that would be equivalent to 5~100 ppm for acetone and 10~ 200 ppm ethanol. GC-FID and PID were evaluated simultaneously. Quantitative analysis was performed after sampling and the direct-reading instrument was checked using real-time data logging. Results: Positive correlations between PID and GC-FID were found for acetone and ethanol at 0.04~2.4% for acetone(TLV: 500 ppm) and 0.1~8.3% for ethanol(TLV: 1000 ppm). When the sampling time was 15 min, concentration of test solution was the most similar between measurement methods. However, the longer the sampling time, the less similar the results. PID and GC-FID had similar exposure patterns. Conclusions: The results indicate that PID and GC-FID have similar exposure pattern and positive correlation for detection of acetone and ethanol. Therefore, PID can be used for exposure monitoring for VOCs in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. This study has significance in that it validates measuring occupational exposure using a portable device.