Comparison of sensor characteristics of three real‐time monitors for organic vapors

Abstract

Sensor characteristics and performance of three real-time monitors for volatile organic compounds (VOC monitor) equipped with a photo ionization detector (PID), a sensor using the interference enhanced reflection (IER) method and a semiconductor gas sensor were investigated for 52 organic solvent vapors designated as class 1 and class 2 of organic solvents by the Ordinance of Organic Solvent Poisoning Prevention in Japan. Methods: Test vapors were prepared by injecting each liquid solvent into a 50 l Tedlar ® bag and perfectly vaporizing it. The vapor concentration was from one-tenth to twice the administrative control level for all solvents. The vapor concentration was measured with the monitors and a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector simultaneously, and the values were compared. Results: The monitor with the PID sensor could measure many organic vapors, but it could not detect some vapors with high ionization potential. The IER sensor could also detect many vapors, but a linear response was not obtained for some vapors. A semiconductor sensor could detect methanol that could not be detected by PID and IER sensors. Conclusions: Working environment measurement of organic vapors by real-time monitors may be possible, but sensor characteristics and their limitations should be known. (J Occup Health 2015; 57: 13-19)

Stabilization and Specification in Polymer Field-Effect Transistor Semiconductors

“…VOCs, particularly those with carbonyl functionality such as aldehydes, ketones, and esters, are important as health-relevant components of indoor air pollution. − VOCs are detected in the environment by photoionization detectors, but with little chemical specificity. − The opportunities for specificity described here, against a background environment or for distinguishing different anticipated exposures, could be useful for keeping workplace, educational, and residential environments safe and for indicating environmental exposures that could have been associated with health conditions. Sensors of this manuscript already detect vapors at levels corresponding to those of interest for environmental health.…”

Health risk analysis from volatile organic compounds and fine particulate matter in the printing industry

“…TVOC concentrations were recorded every 30 min and were collected from five working days, from 8 am to 5 pm. The PID was equipped with a 10.6 eV lamp that had a sampling flow rate of 0.5 lmin −1 (Hori et al 2015 ), a resolution of 0.1 ppm in the detected range of 0–15,000 ppm (Jia et al 2019 ), and the average represented the TVOC concentration for that section (RAE System 2018 ).…”

Quantitation of sevoflurane in whole blood and aqueous solutions by volatile organic compound sensing

“…The difference in the film thickness before and after absorption is detected by measuring the intensity of the reflection light that is obliquely emitted from a laser diode (LD) or light emitting diode (LED) to the polymer film. Then, the concentration of the respective volatile organic compound is determined from this difference (Hori, Ishimatsu, Fueta, Hinoue, & Ishidao, 2015). Previous studies (Hori, Ishimatsu, Fueta, Hinoue, & Ishidao, 2013, 2015 have investigated the effectiveness of VOC quantitation using the same real-time monitor, comparing the results obtained for several VOCs (including xylene and ethyl acetate) and correlating them with those obtained by GC.…”