Urban air pollution

Online monitoring of air pollution components in cities and industrial estates

Polluted air contains high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, ozone, oxygen-containing compounds, sulphur-containing compounds, nitrogen-containing compounds and chlorine-containing compounds, all exceeding regulatory limits.

The ambient air in urban areas and industrially dense regions is rich in various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at varying concentrations. Certain VOCs (such as monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) can have numerous adverse effects on the daily lives of local residents due to their harmful nature and unpleasant odours.

Sources of atmospheric pollutant emissions may be distributed as individual points of varying sizes within industrial zones and urban areas, or may take the form of anthropogenic areas rooted in densely populated regions.

As indicators of pipeline leaks or inefficiencies in industrial processes, identifying and addressing VOC hotspots within industrial estates helps managers improve production efficiency and reduce unnecessary waste, thereby ensuring compliance with local or national emission standards.

Our photoionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometer, the ProC-TOF, has been widely applied and has a proven track record in both mobile and fixed-site real-time characterisation of atmospheric pollutants.

Equipped with a high-resolution time-of-flight analyser, the ProC-TOF is capable of simultaneously analysing hundreds of different types of VOC pollutants.

Environmental air monitoring for industrial hygiene and emissions using the ProC-TOF series of process mass spectrometers enables high-speed analysis of a wide range of compounds from multiple locations, with detection limits down to the ppb level.

System functionality can be expanded by analysing multiple sampling points. It can also be configured to utilise various valve combinations to monitor a wider range of samples.

Today, environmental air quality regulations are becoming increasingly stringent worldwide, and penalties for non-compliance are severe. The ability to monitor hazardous chemicals and flammable gases accurately, rapidly and effectively is crucial for compliance with these regulations.

ProC-TOF online mass spectrometers are used in a wide range of other emission monitoring applications

Monitoring emissions from semiconductor factories, determining the efficiency of emission reduction equipment, monitoring vehicle exhaust emissions, assessing the effectiveness of catalytic converters, and measuring the levels of CO and CO₂ in emissions

A wide range of other gases can be analysed

Methane oxidation, formaldehyde and benzene compound degradation, carbon dioxide reduction, NOx removal, atmosphere analysis in vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plants; atmosphere analysis in benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) plants; workplace monitoring in general manufacturing sectors where toxic chemicals (such as speciality chemicals and speciality gases) are used

Unlike chromatographic analysis, online mass spectrometry enables the direct, real-time detection of all analytes. Mass spectrometer systems can be installed in conventional laboratories, fixed stations or on vehicles; they are simple to operate and easy to maintain. Detection methods include mobile monitoring in urban areas, fixed-point monitoring, and laboratory analysis of samples collected in field-deployed sampling bags.