Abstract :
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are hazardous to human health and the environment. Because VOCs are dangerous, there is often a requirement to monitor their concentrations; however, current VOC monitoring techniques (spot sampling) are often insufficient to determine their representative concentrations. In this study we used a more representative approach to measured and analyse aggregate concentrations of VOC and their individual components at a Drinking-water Well in the U.S. Continuous measurement of aggregate concentrations of VOC was conducted at the site on hourly
sampling basis using an in-borehole gas monitor called Gasclam whilst a Tenax TA sorbent tube incorporated into and to work in parallel with this instrumentation was used to adsorb bulk concentrations of VOCs and subsequently desorbed (for characterisation) using thermal desorption/gas chromatographymass spectroscopy (TD/GC-MS) technique. A total concentration of 3785ppm and2108ppm was recorded in wells 1 and 2 respectivelyover the monitoring period. The total concentrations of adsorbed VOCs in the site are 2.64 x 102 mg/m3 and 2.42 x 102 mg/m3in wells 1 and 2 respectively. Among the identified VOCs are those considered to be hazardous to health and environment. Although various types of remediation have been done on this site; the result shows they were not effective. Further remediation is therefore recommended.
Keyword :
Carcinogens Gasclam, Ozone formation, TD/GC-MS, Tenax TA, VOCs characterization.