TITLE
Replacement of Charcoal in VOST


AUTHOR(S)
L.D. Johnson, R.G. Fuerst, A.L. Foster, and J.T. Bursey


PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
EPA/ORD/AREAL/MRDD/SMRB, RTP, NC  27711 and Radian Corp. RTP, NC 
27709

SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory
Office of Research and Development
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, NC  27711

ABSTRACT
     EPA Method 0030, the Volatile Organic Sampling Train (VOST),
for sampling volatile organics from stationary sources, specifies
the use of petroleum-base charcoal in the second sorbent tube. 
Charcoal has proven to be a marginal performer as a sampling
sorbent, partly due to inconsistency in analyte recover.  In
addition, commercial availability of petroleum charcoal for VOST
tubes has been variable.  Lack of data on comparability and
variability of charcoals for VOST application has created
uncertainty when other charcoals are substituted.

     Five potential sorbent replacements for charcoal in Method
0030 were evaluated along with a reference charcoal.  Two of the
sorbents tested, Ambersorb XE-340 and Tenas GR, did not perform
well enough to quality as replacements.  Three candidates, Anasorb
747, Carbosieve S-III and Kureha Beaded Activated Charcoal,
performed adequately, and produced statistically equivalent
results.  Anasorb 747 appears to be an acceptable replacement for
petroleum charcoal, based on a combination of performance,
availability, and cost.