Developing Methods to Measure Concentration Profiles in Solid Materials Using Solid Phase Micro Extraction (SPME)
Department
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Major
Environmental Engineering
Research Advisor
Morrison, Glenn
Advisor's Department
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Funding Source
EPA GRO Fellowship
Abstract
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor air have been correlated with numerous health problems by epidemiologists and toxicologists. However many of these health problems have not been linked to any particular pollutant since current methods for collecting exposure data are very limited. It is our goal to derive methods which provide health scientists with the historic exposure data needed for their studies by taking advantage of unique concentration profiles due to diffusion of air pollutants into and out of building materials. To date we have developed methods to measure chemicals activities in polyurethane foam (PUF; used in furniture cushions) using solid phase micro-extraction (SPME), measure the diffusion coefficient of toluene in PUF, create concentration profiles under conditions similar to indoor environments, and model the measured concentration profiles. For the PUF material tested, the toluene diffusion coefficient at room temperature was 0.00078 cm22/s (± 0.00035). Uncertainty associated with measuring concentration profiles using SPME has also been quantified (± 2.1%).
Biography
Jonathan McKinney is a junior in Environmental Engineering. He is pursuing a research project under the supervision of Dr. Glenn C. Morrison and plans to continue working on the project after his OURE fellowship. He has also received an EPA GRO fellowship for his research efforts. Jonathan has been interested in working in a lab for a long time, and really enjoys having the opportunity to do so now. When finished with his undergraduate degree, he plans to go on and get a masters degree.
Research Category
Engineering
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Award
Engineering poster session, Second place
Location
Upper Atrium/Hallway
Presentation Date
08 Apr 2009, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Developing Methods to Measure Concentration Profiles in Solid Materials Using Solid Phase Micro Extraction (SPME)
Upper Atrium/Hallway
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor air have been correlated with numerous health problems by epidemiologists and toxicologists. However many of these health problems have not been linked to any particular pollutant since current methods for collecting exposure data are very limited. It is our goal to derive methods which provide health scientists with the historic exposure data needed for their studies by taking advantage of unique concentration profiles due to diffusion of air pollutants into and out of building materials. To date we have developed methods to measure chemicals activities in polyurethane foam (PUF; used in furniture cushions) using solid phase micro-extraction (SPME), measure the diffusion coefficient of toluene in PUF, create concentration profiles under conditions similar to indoor environments, and model the measured concentration profiles. For the PUF material tested, the toluene diffusion coefficient at room temperature was 0.00078 cm22/s (± 0.00035). Uncertainty associated with measuring concentration profiles using SPME has also been quantified (± 2.1%).
