Measuring the Organic Carbon Content of Source Emissions for Air Pollution Control

Abstract

Measuring emissions of organic materials from such sources as paint bake ovens, degreas-ing operations, and printing processes is a necessy part of a control program for solvents. Over the intervening years since 1966 when Los Angeles first enacted its solvent Rule 66, a considerable number of tests have been performed and the present test method has gone through a period of experience and improvement. A sample is collected from a stack or vent in a freeze-out trap cooled with dry ice followed by an evacuated 8-liter tank. Analysis is done by a system of gas chromatography and catalytic combustion to yield the total organic carbon content. Representative industrial emission analysis results, which demonstrate the practical applicability of the system, are shown.