Continuous VOCs Monitoring in Saturated and Unsaturated Zones Using Thermal Desorber and Gas Chromatography: System Development and Field Application

Jinsung An, Dong-Jun Baek, Jiseok Hong, Eunsoo Choi and Ijung Kim
Additional contact information
Jinsung An: Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Semyung University, Jecheon-si 27136, Korea
Dong-Jun Baek: Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Semyung University, Jecheon-si 27136, Korea
Jiseok Hong: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul 04066, Korea
Eunsoo Choi: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul 04066, Korea
Ijung Kim: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul 04066, Korea

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 6, 1-11

Abstract: Subsurface VOC monitoring has been mainly based on manual sampling, transport, and analysis, which would require a sufficient amount of samples to ensure data accuracy and reliability, and additional costs to ensure sample quality. Therefore, a continuous on-site monitoring system is desirable for accurate measurement and subsequent risk assessment. In this study, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) were continuously monitored by the system based on a thermal desorber (TD) and gas chromatography (GC) in an oil-contaminated site that consisted of saturated and unsaturated zones. For the saturated zone, fully automated groundwater sampling and purging processes were performed, and the gasified samples were applied to the TD–GC system. For the unsaturated zone, the gaseous sample in the site was directly applied to the TD–GC system. After verifying the accuracy and precision of the monitoring system, the continuous monitoring system was successfully operated for more than a month in the field. The monitoring system used in this study is applicable to other sites for continuous monitoring, thus providing a scientific background for advanced risk assessment and policy development.

Keywords: BTEX; on-site monitoring; saturated zone; unsaturated zone; oil-contaminated site (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/6/3400/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/6/3400/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:6:p:3400-:d:770606

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().