Continuous monitoring of organic pollutants

A device for the continuous monitoring of concentrations, as low as sub ppb.sub.v, of volatile organic compound (VOC) pollutant levels in a fluid stream, said device comprising a sampling valve, a stationary concentrator element and a detector, wherein said valve comprises a sample retention element, with said valve periodically opening to cause a sample of the VOCs to enter and be retained in said sample retention element, said valve being further connected to a source of an inert carrier gas, wherein said sample of VOCs is entrained on the carrier gas and carried to the concentrator element from the sample retention element, said concentrator element having injection means to inject at least one sample of the VOCs into the detector to effect said monitoring.

A method for the continuous monitoring of concentrations, as low as sub ppb.sub.v, of pollutant levels in a fluid stream, comprising the steps of collecting at least one sample of the pollutants, by collecting means, from the fluid stream;

• concentrating the at least one collected sample of the pollutants by concentration means;
• and, at predetermined time periods, desorbing the concentrated, at least one collected sample of the pollutants from the concentration means, by desorption means, and injecting the desorbed, concentrated, at least one collected sample of the pollutants into a detector;
• wherein the steps are repeated for said continuous monitoring.

A device for monitoring concentrations of materials in a fluid stream, said device comprising a stationary concentrator element and a detector, said concentrator element having means for collecting and retaining substantially only said materials, and injection means to inject at least one sample of said materials into said detector to effect said monitoring, wherein said concentrator element is in direct fluid connection with said detector.

A device for the continuous monitoring of concentrations, as low as sub ppb.sub.v, of volatile organic compound (VOC) pollutant levels in a fluid stream, said device comprising a stationary concentrator element, and a detector, said stationary concentrator element adapted to receive a sample of said fluid stream suspected of containing said VOC, said sample having been entrained in a carrier gas and being delivered to said concentrator element, said concentrator element residing in direct fluid connection with said detector and having injection means to inject at least one said sample into said detector to effect said monitoring.