ULTRA Passive Samplers

The Passive Alternative for Low-level VOCs

• ULTRA low ppb to ppt-level detection of VOCs in ambient or indoor air



• ULTRA convenient miniature samplers are easy to transport and set up



• ULTRA lightweight — 0.4 oz



• ULTRA economical — no pump, no cleaning, no certification, no high shipping cost



• ULTRA sample integrity with seamless sorbent transfer and storage to maintain low sorbent background



• ULTRA reliable sampling for EPA TO-17



• ULTRA passive convenience, thermal desorption sensitivity

Patented (U.S. Patent No. 6,607,581) SKC Ultra® Passive Samplers provide reliable sampling of low-level volatile organic compounds (VOCs) without the use of a pump. Target chemicals simply diffuse from the atmosphere into the sampler at a fixed rate. Analysis is by highly sensitive thermal desorption with gas chromatography (GC).

Ultra Samplers for EPA Method TO-17

EPA TO-17 for VOCs specifies sorbent tube sampling followed by thermal desorption and gas chromatography analysis. SKC Ultra Samplers use the same sorbents and analysis providing low limits of detection in the low ppb to ppt concentration range for some chemicals. SKC Ultra offers the added benefits of economy and convenience.

See SKC update to EPA TO-17 for recommended sorbent for target compounds.

Ultra Samplers for OSHA Sampling

Ultra Passive Samplers with Chromosorb 106 (Cat. No. 590-200) were shown by the OSHA Salt Lake Technical Center to be an effective means to sample a mixture containing common solvent analytes. It is anticipated that this sampler could be used to develop a new fully validated OSHA method that would find its best application in low-level, long-term workplace sampling for designated chemicals.

See the OSHA Ultra Study at www.osha.gov and search on Ultra Passive Sampler.

 

2 Convenient Configurations

ULTRA convenience of a passive sampler with the ULTRA Sensitivity of Thermal Desorption

 

Ultra I — Prefilled

• ppb-level detection


• Conveniently preloaded with cleaned and purged sorbent


• Ready for immediate use up to 30 days

Easier Sorbent Transfer in the Lab!
Prefilled samplers permit easy and direct transfer of sorbent to a thermal desorption tube in the laboratory.

Ultra I

Diffusive samplers prefilled with cleaned/purged sorbent. See SKC update to EPA TO-17 for recommended sorbent for target compounds.

Ultra I Passive Sampler† prefilled with:	Qty.	Cat. No.
Tenax TA Sorbent, 265 mg	5	590-100
Chromosorb 106‡ Sorbent, 285 mg	5	590-200
Anasorb GCB1 Sorbent, 370 mg Comparable to Carbopack B	5	590-102
Carbopack-X Sorbent, 500 mg	5	590-103
Analysis Accessories	Qty.	Cat. No.
Thermal Desorption Tube, for Ultra I and II, Perkin Elmer, 0.25 x 3.5 in, includes screens and end caps	ea	P226530

†	Use within 30 days; storage at < 39.2 F (4 C) recommended
‡	For additional information on sampling rate for Chromosorb 106, see Reference 3 below or Table of Sampling Rates (ml/min) for the Solvent Analyte Mixture Using SKC Ultra Samplers Containing Chromosorb 106 (PDF).

Ultra II — User-filled

• ppt-level detection


• Low background ensured with separate sorbent vial


• Ideal for vapor intrusion studies

Easier Sorbent Transfer in the Field!
	User transfers sorbent directly into and out of the badge housing. Before and after sampling, sorbent is stored in glass vials with Teflon caps to maintain low background, longer shelf-life, and to facilitate shipping to the laboratory for analysis.

Ultra II

For each sample, purchase empty badge housing and separate vial of cleaned/purged sorbent. See SKC update to EPA TO-17 for recommended sorbent for target compounds.

Description	Qty.	Cat. No.
Ultra II Sampler, empty housing only, packaged in reusable pouch Requires sorbent in vial listed below	ea	590-259
Sorbent Vial† Cleaned and purged (< 20 ng typical background levels)	Qty.	Cat. No.
Tenax TA Sorbent in vial, 265 mg	ea	590-260
Chromosorb 106‡ Sorbent in vial, 285 mg	ea	590-261
Anasorb GCB1 Sorbent in vial, 370 mg Comparable to Carbopack B	ea	590-262
Carbopack-X Sorbent in vial, 500 mg	ea	590-265
Analysis Accessories	Qty.	Cat. No.
Transfer Funnel, for Ultra II, aluminum, facilitates transfer of sorbent from vial to 0.25-in OD thermal desorption tubes	ea	590-264
Thermal Desorption Tube, for Ultra I and II, Perkin Elmer, 0.25 x 3.5 in, includes screens and end caps	ea	P226530

†	Use within 30 days; storage at < 39.2 F (4 C) recommended
‡	For additional information on sampling rate for Chromosorb 106, see Reference 3 below or Table of Sampling Rates (ml/min) for the Solvent Analyte Mixture Using SKC Ultra Samplers Containing Chromosorb 106 (PDF).

Validation

Ultra Passive Samplers were evaluated by the U.S. Military^1,2, OSHA Technical Center (Salt Lake)³, Swedish researchers⁴, and SKC Research and Development Laboratories^5,6. Samplers with specific sorbents were found to be suitable for eight-hour workshift sampling, 24-hour indoor air studies targeting medium-to-high boiling point compounds, and for 24-hour or seven-day sampling of benzene and 1,3-butadiene*.

Ultra Passive Samplers use the same sorbents and analysis as specified in the active method EPA TO-17. Ultra samplers provide comparable low limits of detection in the low ppb to ppt concentration range for some chemicals while offering the benefits of economy and convenience⁷.

* Uptake rates for 1,3-butadiene declined over a one-week period.

 

References

1. Hendricks, W.D., et. al., Feasibility of Diffusive Sampling to Monitor U.S. Military Personnel for Exposure to Toxic Chemical Substances, U.S. Dept. of Labor, OSHA, Salt Lake Technical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, 2002.
2. Hendricks, W., The Marines Project: A Laboratory Study of Diffusive Sampling/Thermal Desorption/Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Monitoring Personal Exposure to Toxic Industrial Chemicals, Industrial Hygiene Division, OSHA, Salt Lake Technical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, April 2002.
3. Hendricks, W., Performance of SKC Ultra Passive Samplers Containing Carboxen 1016, Carbotrap Z, or Chromosorb 106 When Challenged With a Mixture Containing Twenty of OSHA SLTC's Top Solvent Analytes, Methods Development Team, Industrial Hygiene Chemistry Division, OSHA, Salt Lake Technical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, February 2003. www.osha.gov and search on Ultra.
4. Strandberg, B., et. al., "Evaluation of Two Types of Diffusive Samplers and Adsorbents for Measuring 1,3-butadiene and Benzene in Air," Atmospheric Environment, Vol. 39, Issue 22, July 2005, pp. 4104-4110.
5. Coyne, L., et. al., Using Diffusive Samplers for Monitoring for Ppb Levels of Volatile Organic Compounds in Indoor Air, presented at AirMon 02 Fourth International Symposium on Modern Principles of Air Monitoring, Lillehammer, Norway, Feb. 3-7, 2002.
6. Coyne, L., et. al., Using Diffusive Samplers for Monitoring for Ppb Levels of Volatile Organic Compounds in Air, presented at AIHce 2002, San Diego, CA, June 2002.
7. SKC Update to EPA Method TO-17, download below.

 

Ultra Passive Sampler Downloads

Ultra Passive Samplers Spec. Sheet (PDF)

Ultra I Passive Samplers Operating Instructions (PDF)

Ultra II Passive Samplers for Thermal Desorption Operating Instructions (PDF)

Measuring Sub-ppb Levels of VOCs in Indoor Air: Performance Comparison of Diffusive Badges and Canisters (PDF)

Table of Sampling Rates (ml/min) for the Solvent Analyte Mixture Using SKC Ultra Samplers Containing Chromosorb 106 (PDF)

TO-17 Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds in Ambient or Indoor Air (PDF)

List of Laboratories for Analyzing Ultra Passive Samplers

Vapor Intrusion Sampling Options: Performance Data for Canisters, Badges, and Sorbent Tubes for VOCs (PDF)

 

PowerPoint Shows

Feasibility of a New Diffusive Sampler to Measure Sub-ppb Levels Of VOCs

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Issues and Concerns in Diffusive Sampling: Factors Influencing Performance. A Field Evaluation of Diffusive Samplers and Canisters for Monitoring Volatile Organic Compounds in Vapor Intrusion Studies

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This page was last modified April 27, 2009