Air Pollution Monitoring Scenario Calibration of

AAQM instruments & Tips for Reliable Monitoring

DR. RAJENDRA PRASAD

[ecotechinstruments@gmail.com]
 AIR POLLUTION MONITORING SCENARIO
Critical components for Reliable Air Quality Monitoring are
 Man and Machine
Indian Scenario
Man :-
 Person actually doing Air Quality Monitoring are in most cases did not study relevant
courses.
 They have not gone under any formal hands on training .
 Most critical that they are not motivated and aware ultimate utility of the data
generated .
 Several times overloaded.
 Their salaries are neither attractive nor revised regularly.

Machine :-
 Instrument calibration is not done regularly as per requirement and it is expected
that there shall be no drift and variation in the measured parameters which is
incorrect.
 Regular maintenance of the instrument is not under practice.
 Age of HVS/RDS is considered indefinite hence no instrument retired even after
completion of their age. Normal life of HVS/RDS is about 5 years but machine
having age of 10 years and above are still used for monitoring.

Over all it can be said that conditions of man and machine are not good for reliable data
generation.
 Unintentional Errors In Air Pollution Monitoring
Major Cause of Unreliable Data
• Standard Methods are not followed . If followed several modifications
are incorporated for conveniences with out knowing their ultimate
impact on the results.
• Standard certified instruments are not used . Instruments calibration
is either not done or done for showing that we do calibration. Factors
are not account for.
• Monitoring are done with limited infrastructure and untrained staff
where many times compromises are done without understanding
there impact.
• Financial constraints are most of the time control quality of data.
• Senior responsible group hardly bothered about quality of data.
• Crosschecking of the data is hardly done.
• Management most of the time do not trust data generated by their
own staff.
• Monitoring Data are therefore never used for process optimization,
energy saving etc.
• Monitoring are done to show that we are also monitoring air pollution.
• There is no recognition and rewards for good work as Envt. Mangmt
is not linked with productivity.
 Air Quality Monitoring
 Monitoring of air pollutants need to be done for
specified period for which standard are notified. All
parameters must be monitored simultaneously.
 Monitoring must be done twice a week Total 104 days
monitoring must be done in a year to work out annual
averages.

 If 75% of time sampler is operated collected samples

must be considered as valid sample .

 Values must not be reported if calculated

concentrations are less than the detection limits of the
analysis method used.
 GUIDELINES FOR MONITORING
Background Information need to be
Collected

 Sources and Emissions

 Health and Demographic Information
 Meteorological Information
 Topographical Information
 Previous Air Quality Information
Physical requirement of the monitoring site
The site should be available for a long
period of time

Easy access to the site should be there

anytime throughout the year.

Site sheltering and facilities and

electricity of sufficient rating should be
available.

It should be vandal proof and protected

 Physical requirement of the monitoring site
 On all the sides it should be open, that is the
intake should not be within a confined space or from
a corner.

 For traffic pollution monitoring the sampling

intake should be 3 m above the street level.

 Sampling in the vicinity of unpaved roads and

streets results in entrainment of dust into the
samplers from the movement of vehicles. Samplers
are therefore be kept at a distance of 200 m from
unpaved roads and streets.
 Physical requirement of the monitoring site

 Height of the inlet must be 3–10m above the ground level.

The sampler must be more than 20 m from trees.
Distance of the sampler to any air flow obstacle i.e.
buildings, must be more than two times the height of the
obstacle above the sampler.
There should be unrestricted airflow in 3 of 4 quadrants
There should be no nearby furnace or incinerator fumes
 Selection of Monitoring Location

• Representative Site
• The site should be away from major pollution
sources

• The site should be away from absorbing

surfaces
 Data Handling and Presentation

The values should not be reported below the detection limit as per
the method.

Measurement Methods must be as per CPCB Guidelines

Particulates values should be reported in round figures (without

decimal place).

Any outlier values found should be checked for contamination of

sample, sudden change of environmental conditions in the vicinity of
the monitoring site etc. and discarded if necessary.
CALIBRATION REQUIREMENTS

When one should get instrument calibrated

• At the time of manufacture
 When Instrument is transported to a new location and in
different climatic conditions.
 When instrument is operated after interruption of several
months.
 After repair or overhaul of key components.
 After observing significant drift in zero or span values or in
monitoring results.
Definition of Calibration
 Calibration is checking of any scale, reading or value (digital or
analog) by comparing it with an absolute standard and observed
drift/variation is accounted-for while measuring/calculating the
parameters.
 Calibration is needed for all parameters/systems
involved/taking part in calculations/results.
 CALIBRATION DIFFICULTIES
 Inadequate number of recognized agencies in our country.
 Recognized agencies are not equipped with required facilities.
 Calibration set-ups are not portable.
 Transportation of HVS/RDS is expensive with risk of damages.
 Time taken for calibration by recognized agencies is several weeks.
 Cost of calibration is several time the cost of instrument.
 Users are not allowed to witness the calibration.
 There is no clarity about calibration frequency.

The interesting aspect of calibration is that user does not account for
errors/variation in calculation. Calibration certificate and data are used to
show that instrument is calibrated thats all.
 REQUIRED METHODOLOGY
(A) For Field Calibration
 Calibration is required only for those parameters which are taking part in the calculation.
 Roots meter, a primary standard traceable to NIST has been set up at Envirotech for
calibration of Top Loading calibrator.
 All units of HVS/RDS are possible to calibrate in the field using calibrated portable Top
Loading Calibrator (For Manometer Flow), Dry cal (For Rotameter) and Stop Watch (For
Time Totalizer).

(B) For Lab Calibration

 HVS/RDS flow can be calibrated directly using Roots meter.
 Rotameter can be calibrated using Dry cal or roots meter depending upon the capacity of
Rotameter.
 Particle size cut off of the cyclone unit can be established by particle size analysis of
collected dust on filter and in cyclone cup using laser based particle size analyser.
 Rough estimate of the cut off of the cyclone can also be done using manual method with
the help of projection microscope.
 Facts for Calibration
• Primary Standard
Usually maintained by a central facility of laboratory
– Temperature
• Melting Pt. of Ice
• Melting Pt. of specific Salts
– Flow Rate:
• Bell Prover
• Roots Meter
• Water Displacement System
• Transfer Standard
For Field Use
– Temperature
• Thermometer
• Thermocouple/Pyrometer
– Flow Rate
• Dry cal DGM
• Soap Bubble Meter
 Facts for Calibration
• Traceability
The Primary/Transfer Standards used for calibration
should be traceable to National Standards or traceable to
international standard
• Validity of Certification
Usually one year user can decide it but may depend on
frequency and type of use.
• Accreditation
Often required that certifying Agency itself is recognized or
Accredited by NABL
• Documentation
– Log Book
– Calibration Variability Chart
Calibration Requirements of Air Samplers

• Main Flow of HVS/RDS

Primary Standard Roots meter traceable to NIST/FCRI
Transfer Standard Top Loading Orifice Type Calibrator
– Calibrator must be certified by FCRI Palghat

• Validity of Certification
• One year for Calibrators
• EPA recommends a two tier check for individual instruments:
– Monthly Audit at ~1m3/min
– Annual three point calibration check
Correction Required in Calibration of
HVS/RDS
a) Calibration of Top Loading Calibrator has to be done at
Known Temperature and Pressure. Correction for pressure
drop need to be done as below.
Pb- Pm
VTrue = Vmeasured x
Pb
b) If climatic conditions are varying significantly then that of
calibration conditions. Temperature, Pressure corrections
are need to be done for finding out correct flow using.
T2P1
Qcorrect = Qincorrect x
T1P2
T1= absolute temp at orifice calibration conditions (ok)
T2= absolute temp when calibrating the sampler (ok)
P1= Barometric pressure at orifice calibration condition mm Hg
P2= Barometric pressure when calibrating the sampler mm Hg
 Calibration Methodology
• Perform a Leak Check
– Block the air entry port on the inlet pipe and check that the flow
rate drops to zero.
• Position the calibrator with one of the perforated plats (Total 4
plates have been provided. (Range 1.3-0.7m3/min).
• Check Zero Level on the Manometer
• Start the Blower and allow it to warm up for at least 5 minutes.
• Record the flow rate indicated by the manometer on the
instrument and the pressure across the calibration orifice on
digital pressure indicator.
• Repeat readings at 3 or 4 points after replacing the perforated
plates.
• Plot the readings and determine the slope of the best-fit
straight line to get a calibration factor for the instrument.
 CALIBRATION OF PM10/2.5 SAMPLER

• Leak Check:-
– Remove the PM10 impactor with inlet hood from the sampler.
– Install a filter cassette containing a new 47mm PTFE filter in to the unit.
– Install the leak check adapter on the upper end of the sampling tube of the
sampler
– Ensure that the valves on the leak check adopter and on dry gas meter is in
the open position.
– Switch ON the sampler and ensure that reading of dry gas meter moves
smoothly.
– Shut off the valve of leak check adapter fitted at inlet pipe.
– Shut off the valve of the dry gas meter when vacuum shown in dial gauge
reach at 15 inches of Hg.
– Record the reading on the vacuum gauge. This reading should not drop by
more than 8.5 inches Hg in 30 seconds period use your wrist watch for time
reading, if the reading does drop by more than 8.5 inches Hg in 30 seconds
trace the internal flow paths to identify place of leaks and problem is
connections.
– After leak check open the valve of the dry gas meter.
– Open the valve of the leak check adapter slowly and remove the leak check
adapter and reinstall the impactor with hood.
 LEAK CHECK DATA SHEET FOR PM2.5 SAMPLER

Site Location:…………………….. Site Designation……………………...

Observer Name & Affiliation:……………………………………………….

Sampler Model……………………… Sampler ID…………………………

Leak Check

Date of Test Time (HRS) Pressure Drop in 30

Seconds
     

     

     

     

Note: - Repeat test or make repairs if any leakage

Comments: -
 CALIBRATION PROCEDURE

• Follow these steps to perform Calibration

• Install he filter cassette containing a new 47 mm PTFE membrane filter in the unit.
• Ensure that valve on dry gas meter is in the open position.
• Switch on the sampler and ensure that reading of dry gas meter moves smoothly.
• Note the next incoming reading in dry gas meter.
• As the noted reading comes, start the calibrated stopwatch.
• Stop the stopwatch and note the final reading in dry gas meter simultaneously.
• Calculate the flow using the formula:-
(FDGM – IDGM) x 1000
--------------------------------
Time in Min
(Flow should be 16.67 LPM + 5%)
 PM2.5 SAMPLER FLOW CHECK DATA SHEET

Date of Flow Check …………………………….. Time of Flow Check………………………………

Site Identification ………………………………………Site Name…………………………………………………………

Sampler Model………………………………………… Sampler ID………………………Filter ID……………………….

Flow Check Device ………………………………… S/N……………………… Calibration Date………………………

Measurement No. Dry Gas Meter Total Volume of Time Taken by Flow Rate
(m3) Air Passed (m3) Stop Watch (Total Volume of Air
Initial Final Passed (m3) x 1000/Time
Taken (Min)

           

           

           

           

Percent Difference from design flow rate =---------------------------------------------

Percent Difference = [(Average Flow Rate – 16.67) / 16.67]* 100

Calibration Done By……………………..

 Calibration Requirements of
Sampling Type of Instruments
 Ambient Air Quality – RDS
 Field calibration using Top- Loading Calibrators
 Traceability of Top- Loading Calibrators to be maintained at
a Central Facility-NPL
 For PM 10 kind of systems, particle size cut-off measuring
system to be set up at a central facility.
 Ambient Air Quality – Gaseous Pollutants
 Field calibration of sampling rate using soap film
calibrators.
 Traceability of Soap Film Calibrators DRY CAL to be
maintained at a Central Facility
 Quality of Specific Color Developing chemicals used in the
Spectrophotometric analysis MUST BE certified.
 RECOMMENDATIONS
 Manpower need to qualified, regularly trained and motivated.
 Periodic checks of monitoring methodology must be done by
experienced team through field evaluation on each site where aspects
of sampling, analysis and calculation must be supervised by actual
sample collection, once in a year at all locations.
 Regular calibration of monitoring instruments must be done as per
requirements.
 Calibration requirements and frequency of calibration must be made a
part of standard.
 On-going practice which does not match with standard procedures must
be stopped/corrected for reliable data generation.

There should be freedom for users to witness the calibration. Cost of

calibration need to be affordable
 Monitoring Tips for Sampling
 Dust sampler (RDS) must be properly calibrated to get the
correct flow rate.
Corrective and preventive maintenance of the dust sampler
must be done.
The filter used for sampling should be of good quality (having
better mechanical stability, chemical stability, particle sampling
efficiency, flow resistance and availability etc.)
Filter should be mounted properly on the support screen with
the rough side of the filter facing upwards.
The wing nuts should be tightened properly to avoid any
leakage
 Weighing of filter paper must be done after conditioning in
desiccators having active moisture absorbent.
 Monitoring Tips for Sampling
Weighing of filter paper must be done in balance having accuracy of
0.01 mg and silica gel bottle must be kept in weighing chamber to
avoid error while weighing.
Distilled water must be used in manometer tube and water must be
changed every fortnightly and zero level must be checked every time.

Shelter should be provided at the sampling site for protection of

instruments during rainy season.

Ice should be kept in the sampling tray during sampling to avoid

evaporation loss and better absorption.
Evaporation loss if any must be made up with distilled water.

Proper preservation of samples must be done after sampling.

Gaseous samples must be preserved properly in an ice box or
refrigerator (below 5 ° C) prior to analysis.
 Monitoring Tips for Analysis
 Properly clean glassware must be used.
 One set of glassware must be calibrated
 All critical chemicals used must be of AR grade
 Double distilled water must be used for preparation of
reagents and analysis.
 Glassware and storage bottles must be rinsed with
distilled water and chemicals respectively.
 Reagent bottles must be properly marked by name,
strength and date of preparation, expiry date and initial of
chemist
 Monitoring Tips for Analysis
Desiccant in the desiccators must be changed as per requirements

The chemicals where strength changes with time must be standardized

before use.

Calibration graphs must be made using a new stock solution .

Reagent bottles must be made air tight before storage.

Key reagents must be prepared fresh on the date of analysis.

Storage of chemicals must be done as per recommendations like away

from sunlight etc.

Active silica gel bottles with holes must be placed inside the weighing
chamber.
Thank
you…
Activity Matrix for Calibration of Equipment : SPM
Monitoring
Equipment Acceptance limits
Analytical balance Use 3 to 5 standard weights
covering normal range of
filter weights; weight
difference within 1 mg
Relative humidity indicator Indicator reading =
Psychrometer reading + 6%
On-off timer * + 15 min/24 h
Elapsed-time meter* + 2 min/ 24 h
Orifice calibration unit Difference in flowrate <+4 %
Sampler % deviation = 100 (Qo-
(in operation) Qc)/Qc within 5%
Qo = observed flow rate
Qc = flow rate from
calibration curve
Frequency and method of
measurement
Gravimetric test; calibration
at installation and periodic
checks
Comparison with reading of
wet bulb/dry bulb
psychrometer receipt and
every 6 monthly after words
Check at purchase and
quarterly with elapse-time
meter
Standard timepiece of
known accuracy at receipt
and every 6 monthly
afterwards
Rootsmeter at installation
and after words yearly
Calibration orifice unit on
receipt and after major
maintenance on sampler
Action of requirements
are
no met
Have balance maintained
and calibrated by
manufacturer
 Adjust or replace to attain
acceptance limits
 Adjust, and repeat test
 
Adjust or replace time
indicator to attain
acceptance limits
 Adopt new calibration curve
if orifice damaged or
replace orifice unit
Rerun points for which %
deviation exceeds + 5%
until acceptance limits
attained