A unique application of an extractive FTIR ambient air monitoring system for the simultaneous detection of multiple-ppb-level VOCs

The design, implementation, and application of an extractive Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) ambient air monitoring system are reported. Simultaneous detection and accurate quantification of several volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be achieved in the range of sub parts per million on a continuous, near-real-time basis. Application of this system at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad, NM, USA, for the detection of 1,1-dichloroethylene, carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride, chloroform, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, chlorobenzene, 1,2-dichloroethane, and toluene, as well as other ambient air constituents, is described in detail. The results of some on-site validations are also presented to help exhibit the versatility and field ruggedness of such a system for long-term, continuous usage.