title: Continuous emissions monitoring using spark-induced breakdown spectroscopy.
abstract: A new technology for monitoring airborne heavy metals on aerosols and particulates based on spark-induced breakdown spectroscopy (SIBS) was evaluated at a joint U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)/U.S. Department of Energy test at the rotary kiln incinerator simulator (RKIS) facility at EPA/Research Triangle Park, NC, in September 1997. The instrument was configured to measure lead and chromium in a simulated combustion flue gas in real time and in situ at target levels of 15 and 75 micrograms/dry standard cubic meters. Actual metal concentrations were measured during the tests using EPA Reference Method (RM) 29. The SIBS technology detected both lead and chromium at the low- and high-level concentrations. Additionally, the hardware performed without failure for more than 100 hr of operation and acquired data for 100% of the RM tests. The chromium data were well correlated with concentration increases resulting from duct operations and pressure fluctuations that are known to entrain dust.
authors.affiliation: Physical Sciences Inc., Andover, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Morency
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Senior
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fraser
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D002138:Calibration; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D014481:United States; D014484:United States Environmental Protection Agency
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D019216:Metals, Heavy