FRTR Field Sampling and Analysis Technologies Reference Guide

6 SAMPLE ANALYSIS TOOLS for VOCs, SVOCS, and PESTICIDES

6.2 EX-SITU ANALYSIS

6.2.23 Piezoelectric Sensors

Use:

Screening for chlorinated hydrocarbons and other VOC gases.

Description:

Sensors using piezoelectric materials develop an electrical response to changes in pressure. Typically, oscillating materials are used as sensitive gravimetric detectors. Selective coatings allow specific organic solvent vapors to be sorbed on the crystal. The increased mass of the crystal resulting from sorption changes the frequency of oscillation, which can be correlated with concentration.

Analytes:

1. Non-Halogenated VOCs
3. Halogenated VOCs

Media:

Soil/Sediment	Water	Gas/Air
Requires extraction to gas phase	Requires extraction to gas phase	BETTER

Selectivity:	Technique measures the contaminant directly.
Susceptibility to Interference:	High.
Detection Limits :	100-1000 ppb (soil); 1-50 ppb (water).
Turnaround Time per Sample:	Minutes.

Applicable To:

Screen/Identify	Characterize Concentration/Extent	Cleanup Performance	Long-Term Monitoring
BETTER	ADEQUATE	BETTER	BETTER

Quantitative Data Capability:	Data become quantitative with additional effort.
Technology Status:	Commercially available technology with limited field experience.
Certification/Verification:	Technology has not participated in CalEPA certification and/or CSCT verification program.
Relative Cost per Analysis:	Least expensive.

Limitations:

Difficulty in developing selective coatings that are not affected by complex mixtures..
Separate sensor is required for each compound of interest.

ASTM Standards/EPA Methods:

No applicable ASTM standards or EPA methods are cited for this technology.

Sample Access/Collection Matrix

Sample Analysis Matrix

Home

Areas of Interest