About the webinar
Companies around the globe measure ethylene oxide (EO) from stationary sources regularly. The analysis has recently garnered significant interest in the US due to proposed new emission and exposure standards.
There are many unique challenges associated with low level ethylene oxide monitoring with any technology:
1. Achieving the instrumental sensitivity to measure ethylene oxide in the low ppb range for stationary sources
2. Sample transport of a low concentration reactive analyte over potentially long distances in the presence of atmospheric or process interferences
3. Separating the ethylene oxide from known and unknown potential interferences
4. Instrumental baseline drift issues
5. Developing and meeting QA/QC requirements for continuous emissions monitoring
6. Automation, feasibility, and ease of use
Ethylene oxide emissions monitoring by an alternative to gas chromatography
To measure any gas at ppb levels in real-time requires ultra-sensitive instrumentation and insensitivity to cross-interferences present in the sample matrix. Due to its molecular weight, ethylene oxide is difficult to monitor using normal mass spectroscopic technologies. GCs can be incorporated into a continuous emissions monitoring, but then batch sample collection systems are necessary that complicate and delay the response time. Sample transport can also be a challenge at these levels, and consideration must be given to sample flow rate, moisture content and temperature.
FTIR gas analysis of ethylene oxide
Lastly, adequate QA/QC must be performed to demonstrate that the technology is working properly and providing results that are accurate and defensible. It is also critical that the system have an adequate zeroing process, since any baseline drift or instrument variation may be significantly larger than the ethylene oxide signal. The ethylene oxide monitoring challenges mentioned above will be discussed in this webinar along with how they can be handled within ultra-sensitive FTIR-based continuous emissions monitoring systems.
To learn more about using FTIR Gas Analyzers as an alternative to GC and other gas analysis technologies to detect ethylene oxide, watch the webinar: Solutions for Ethylene Oxide Source Emissions Monitoring.
About the speaker
Kelly McPartland is an Applications Manager with Thermo Fisher Scientific, Gas Analysis Solutions. A graduate of Boston University, Kelly is an expert in FTIR gas analysis, associated method development and data validation. As a senior-level technical liaison for gas analysis customers, Kelly has been a key architect and manager for data acquisition gas analysis software, ensuring quality results and customer usability. Kelly also works closely with state and federal regulatory agencies to develop Quality Assurance Plans and test methods for new technologies.