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PASSIVE SAMPLER FOR MONITORING ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTANTS (VERAM)
WO10109049
The University of Valencia have developed a fast, easy and versatile monitoring protocol for organic contaminants in air, based on the development of a new passive sampler named VERAM. This passive sampling device consists of a lay-flat low-density polyehytelene membrane filled with solid phases. Retained pollutants are directly determined by gas chromatography (GC) using head space injection (HS) after heating the sampling device. The great advantages include the absence of sample handling, the reduction of analysis time and the avoidance of the use of solvents. A mixture of different solid phases allows sample all the possible pollutants in the air or it is possible to select appropriated solid phases for a specific sampling of compounds as a function of their physical-chemical properties.
Applications: The main application of the technology is: - In environmental analysis: as procedure for determination of atmospheric pollutants using VERAM device (passive sampling, extraction technique and analysis). This protocol can be utilized to evaluate occupational health (e.g. in refineries, painting factories or greenhouses) or to select zones with critical contamination for air quality monitoring networks. Advantages: The most remarkable advantages provided by this technology are: - Versatility, it is possible to sample a big number of pollutants using a single device containing a combination of solid phases. - Greater adsorption capacity and high analytic sensitivity with smaller sampling time than market available devices. - Rapidity and low cost of pollutant analysis. Thermal desorption and head space injection minimize sample handling, do not require the use of solvents and reduce the time of analysis. - Cheap passive samplers with a fast and simple fabrication procedure. - VERAM permits a multidirectional sampling differing from radial or one-way sampling devices with encapsulated solid phases.