Multi-Metal Monitoring System Based Upon Spark-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Physical Sciences, Inc. (PSI) proposes to develop a multi-metals emissions monitor to support Title V permitting of large air pollution source based upon its patented spark-induced breakdown spectroscopy (SIBS) technology. Work prior to Phase I has shown that this technique is capable of sensitively monitoring metals in airborne particles that emit in the visible (Pb, Cr, and Cd for example). In order to be useful for measuring all of the metallic hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), however, use of SIBS in the deep UV must be developed. In the Phase I program, therefore, we began the development of a SIBS capability to monitor As and SE, which have strong emissions at 193.7 and 196.0 nm, respectively. This ability will be optimized the Phase II program and will then be married to the existing SBIS technology to create the basis of a monitor that is able to identify and quantify all the metals on the HAPs list. This monitor will be very useful in enabling large air pollution sources, such as incinerators and power plant, to meet their Title V obligations of monitoring and reporting their emissions. The SIBS monitor will operate in real-time, an improvement over the currently used EPA reference method 29, an extractive technique which is labor intensive, slow and not amenable to automation.