SKC 590-300 User Manual

Operating Instructions

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Nitrous Oxide Passive Sampler

Cat. No. 590-300

Introduction

The SKC Nitrous Oxide Passive Sampler is a small sampler that provides accurate
and reliable sampling of nitrous oxide in the 50 to 450 ppm range (12.75 to 890 ppm­hours dose range). The samplers are packaged as empty sampler housings that the
user fi lls with cleaned/purged Molecular Sieve 5A sorbent supplied in glass vials
with PTFE-lined caps. This method of packaging maintains low sorbent background.
Samples are thermally desorbed and analyzed by gas chromatography with electron
capture detector.

Collar Clip

Collar

Clip

Plug

Cover

Green Secondary
Diffusion Barrier

Primary

Diffusion

Barrier

Vial

Adapter

Front View
of Housing

Back View
of Housing

Vial containing

purged sorbent

Performance Profi le

Sorbent/Amount:
Housing Material: Nylon, non-sterile
Diameter: 1.4 in (3.5 cm)
Length
(including clip): 2.5 in (6.3 cm)
Depth: 0.6 in (1.5 cm)
Concentration Range: 50 to 450 ppm (12.75 to 890 ppm-hrs dose)
Analysis: Thermal desorption; gas chromatography (GC) with

Shelf-life: 6 months from date of manufacture. Store at < 39.2 F (4 C).
Sample Storage: 3 weeks at < 39.2 F (4 C) or 1 week at ambient temperature
Sample Time: Validated for 8-hour sampling
Sampling Rate: 0.81 ml/min ± 12% RSD

Samplers are non-sterile.

Molecular Sieve 5A 60/80, 736 mg (supplied in glass vial)

electron capture detector (ECD)

www.skcinc.com

Sampling

2

2

3A

Open aluminized resealable pouch and

remove sampler, vial of sorbent, and green
secondary diff usion barrier.

Use proper handling technique when working
with samplers.

Write pertinent information, including

Sample ID#, on the lines provided on the
pouch label.

In a clean, organic solvent-free environment,

remove plug from vial adapter on back of
sampler housing (side without holes). Remove
cap from sorbent vial. Immediately hold
housing vial adapter down over the open end
of the vial. Screw open end of vial into the
adapter (see inset 3A). Rotate assembly until
sorbent is draining from vial to sampler. Tap
vial lightly before unscrewing and removing it
from the adapter. Immediately replace plug on
adapter.

Sorbent

Avoid exposing sorbent to air.

Sorbent Vial

Vial Adapter

Remove cover from face of sampler housing

(side with holes) immediately before sampling.
Store cover for reuse.

Important!

Snap on green secondary diff usion barrier to

control sampling rate.

Clip sampler to a worker's clothing near the

breathing zone. The sampler must not be
covered by clothing and the diff usion holes
must face outward.

Samplers are non-sterile.

Do not cover sampler with clothing.

A er desired sampling period, unclip sampler

1111

10

1010

1111

from worker's clothing. Immediately remove
green secondary diff usion barrier and dispose
following appropriate procedures.

Seal sampler with cover immediately.

It is important that samplers are sealed tightly
with cover. The samplers could potentially
pick up moisture over time which will affect the
recovery of N

O.

2

Write stop time on label on the pouch.

In a clean, organic solvent-free environment,

10

carefully remove plug from vial adapter on back
of sampler housing. Immediately screw open
end of sorbent vial into adapter (see inset 10A).

Vial Adapter

Rotate assembly until sorbent is draining from
sampler to vial. Tap sampler lightly. Ensure
all sorbent is recovered in the vial. Remove
sampler housing from vial and immediately
screw cap onto vial.

Avoid exposing sorbent to air.

Sorbent Vial

Mark sample vial(s) as appropriate and seal in

aluminized pouch. Package sample(s) and one
blank sorbent vial in a padded envelope. Send

5:30

9:30

to a laboratory for analysis.

Storage

Before Sampling: Up to 6 months at < 39.2 F (4 C) in a clean environment

A er Sampling: 3 weeks at < 39.2 F (4 C) or 1 week at ambient temperature

in a clean environment

10A

Sorbent

Sorbent vials should be capped tightly and kept in foil pouches before
and a er use.

Analysis

1. Remove cap from vial. Using the transfer funnel accessory, immediately pour
sorbent from vial into a 0.25-inch OD (0.194-inch ID) x 3.5-inch L thermal
desorption tube. Ensure end of tube facing downward contains a stainless steel
screen and glass wool separator to hold sorbent in place.

2. A er sorbent is transferred to the tube, remove funnel and immediately place
a stainless steel screen and glass wool separator into the open end of the tube.

3. Seal tube with PTFE caps or Swagelok

®

fi  ings.

4. Thermally desorb the sample.

5. Analyze samples using a gas chromatograph (GC) with electron capture
detector (ECD).

* Thermal desorption tubes must be 0.25-inch O.D., 0.194-inch I.D., and a minimum length

of 3.5 inch (Perkin Elmer Thermal Desorber). Thermal desorption tube blanks that meet
these specifi cations are available from SKC (Cat. No. P226350).

Validation

The SKC Nitrous Oxide Passive Sampler has been validated over a concentration
range of 50 to 450 ppm (20 to 80% RH) and at time intervals from 15 minutes to
8 hours. This is described in detail in the validation report

1

. The average sampling
rate over the dose range of 12.75 to 890 ppm-hours was 0.81 ml/min with a standard
deviation of ± 12%. The sorbent was transferred to a Perkin Elmer thermal desorption
tube and then thermally desorbed into a GC with electron capture detection.

References

1

Kuhlman, C. and Coyne, L., Validation of Nitrous Oxide Using SKC Passive Sampler 590-300,

SKC Inc., Mar. 2008, www.skcinc.com/pdf/1762.pdf

Ordering

Description Cat. No.
Nitrous Oxide Passive Samplers include empty sampler housings*,

secondary diffusion barriers, and sealed glass vials of 736 mg cleaned/
purged Molecular Sieve 5A sorbent, pk/5; limited shelf-life 590-300
Replacement Sorbent Vial, glass vial with PTFE-lined cap fi lled with
736 mg cleaned/purged Molecular Sieve 5A sorbent 590-268

* Samplers are non-sterile.

Analysis Accessories Cat. No.
Transfer Funnel, aluminum, facilitates transfer of sorbent from vial to

0.25-inch OD thermal desorption tube 590-264
Thermal Desorption Tube, Perkin Elmer, 0.25 x 3.5 inch, includes screens
and end caps P226530

SKC Limited Warranty and Return Policy

SKC products are subject to the SKC Limited Warranty and Return Policy, which
provides SKC’s sole liability and the buyer’s exclusive remedy. To view the com­plete SKC Limited Warranty and Return Policy, go to h p://www.skcinc.com/
warranty.asp.

Form 40106 Rev 1404