Apparatus and method for mobile collection of atmospheric sample for chemical analysis

A system for collecting and analyzing an atmospheric sample, the system comprising:

• a handheld sampler configured to collect the atmospheric sample, the handheld sampler including:
• a sample inlet,
• a pump in fluid communication with the sample inlet,
• a sample cartridge in fluid communication with the sample inlet and the pump, the sample cartridge being disposed therebetween, and
• a carrier gas inlet in fluid communication with the sample cartridge, the sample cartridge being disposed between the carrier gas inlet and the sample inlet;
• and
• a sample analyzer configured to couple with the handheld sampler to receive and analyze the atmospheric sample from the sample cartridge in the handheld sampler, the sample analyzer including:
• an analyte inlet configured to fluidly couple with the sample inlet,
• a carrier gas source to fluidly couple with the carrier gas inlet;
• and
• an analysis module in fluid communication with the analyte inlet.

A system for collecting and analyzing an atmospheric sample, the system comprising:

• a handheld sampler configured to collect the atmospheric sample, the handheld sampler including:
• a sample inlet,
• a pump in fluid communication with the sample inlet,
• a sample cartridge in fluid communication with the sample inlet and the pump, the sample cartridge being disposed therebetween, and
• a carrier gas inlet in fluid communication with the sample cartridge, the sample cartridge being disposed between the carrier gas inlet and the sample inlet;
• and
• a sample analyzer configured to couple with the handheld sampler to receive and analyze the atmospheric sample from the sample cartridge in the handheld sampler, the sample analyzer including:
• a wand configured to couple with the handheld sampler to receive the atmospheric sample from the sample cartridge in the handheld sampler, including
• an analyte inlet configured to fluidly couple with the sample inlet, and
• a carrier gas source to fluidly couple with the carrier gas inlet;
• and
• an interface in fluid communication with the analyte inlet;
• and
• an analysis module in fluid communication with the interface.

A method for collecting and analyzing an atmospheric sample with a handheld sampler using an sample analyzer having an analyte inlet and a source of carrier gas, the handheld sampler including a removably securable sample cartridge with a sample inlet, a pump, and a carrier gas inlet, the atmospheric sample comprising a mixture of at least a matrix and an analyte, the method comprising:

• locating the handheld sampler at a site to be tested;
• activating the pump to draw the atmospheric sample through the sample cartridge via the sample inlet;
• absorbing the analyte from the atmospheric sample within the sample cartridge, while the matrix passes through the sample cartridge;
• coupling the handheld sampler to the sample analyzer, the coupling step including fluidly coupling the sample inlet to the analyzer analyte inlet and fluidly coupling the carrier gas inlet to the carrier gas source;
• and
• sweeping the analyte from the sample cartridge into the analyte inlet via the sample inlet by flowing a carrier gas through the sample cartridge via the carrier gas inlet, the sample cartridge remaining secured in the sampler during the sweeping step.

A method for collecting an atmospheric sample with a handheld sampler, the handheld sampler including a plurality of removably securable sample cartridges, a sample inlet, and a pump, the atmospheric sample comprising a mixture of at least a matrix and an analyte, the method comprising:

• locating the handheld sampler at a site to be tested;
• fluidly connecting the sample inlet with each respective one of the plurality of sample cartridges;
• activating the pump to draw the atmospheric sample simultaneously through each respective one of the plurality of sample cartridges via the sample inlet;
• absorbing a portion of the analyte from the atmospheric sample within each respective one of the plurality of sample cartridges;
• removing one of the plurality of sample cartridges after the absorbing step, for archival purposes;
• and
• sweeping the analyte from at least one of the plurality of sample cartridges into an analyzer while the at least one sample cartridge is secured within the handheld sampler.

A method for collecting an atmospheric sample with a handheld sampler, the handheld sampler including a sample cartridge, a sample inlet, a pump, a memory unit, and a global positioning device, the atmospheric sample comprising a mixture of at least a matrix and an analyte, the method comprising:

• locating the handheld sampler at a site to be tested;
• activating the pump to draw the atmospheric sample through the sample cartridge via the sample inlet;
• determining the location of the atmospheric sample with the global positioning device, the global positioning device generating a global positioning system (GPS) output;
• storing the global positioning system (GPS) output in the memory unit of the handheld sampler;
• and
• sweeping the atmospheric sample out of the sample cartridge for analysis while the sample cartridge is secured within the handheld sampler.

A system for collecting and analyzing an atmospheric sample, the system comprising:

• a handheld sampler configured to collect the atmospheric sample, the handheld sampler including:
• a sample inlet,
• a pump in fluid communication with the sample inlet,
• a sample cartridge in fluid communication with the sample inlet and the pump, the sample cartridge being disposed therebetween, and
• a carrier gas inlet in fluid communication with the sample cartridge, the sample cartridge being disposed between the carrier gas inlet and the sample inlet;
• and
• a docking station configured to couple with the handheld sampler to receive the atmospheric sample from the sample cartridge in the handheld sampler, the docking station including:
• an analyte inlet configured to fluidly couple with the sample inlet, and
• a carrier gas source to fluidly couple with the carrier gas inlet;
• and
• the docking station being configured to separately couple with a sample analyzer to send the atmospheric sample to the sample analyzer, the sample analyzer being physically separate from the docking station and including:
• an analyte inlet configured to fluidly couple with the docking station, and
• an analysis module in fluid communication with the analyte inlet.