United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Industrial Environmental Research
Laboratory
Research Triangle Park NC 27711
Research and Development
EPA-600/S2-81-051 Sept 1981
Project Summary
Response Factors of VOC
Analyzers at a Meter
Reading of 10,000 PPMV for
Selected Organic Compounds
D. A DuBose and G. E. Harris
The report summarizes results of a
reinterpretation of data generated in a
laboratory study of the sensitivity of
two types of portable hydrocarbon
detectors to a variety of organic
compounds. (A previous report, EPA-
600/2-81 -002 [NTIS PB 81 -136194],
describes and gives original results of
the laboratory study.) Detector sensi-
tivity is quantified by a response factor
for each compound where the response
factor equals the actual concentration
of the compound divided by the
observed concentration from the
detector. The previous report esti-
mated response factors at 10,000
ppmv actual concentration of the
compound. This report presents re-
sponse factors estimated for a 10,000
ppmv detector reading. The instru-
ments were calibrated to 7993 ppmv
methane gas.
This Project Summary was devel-
oped by EPA's Industrial Environmen-
tal Research Laboratory, Research
Triangle Park, NC, to announce key
findings of the research project that is
fully documented in a separate report
of the same title (see Project Report
ordering information at back).
Introduction
Portable hydrocarbon analyzers are
used to detect fugitive VOC emissions
from petroleum refinery and chemical
plant process units. The sensitivity of
the analyzers varies, depending on the
chemical and concentration detected.
The detector sensitivity is quantified by
a "response factor" for each compound
where:
Response.
Factor
Actual
Concentration
of Compound
Observed
Concentration
from Detector
Results
This summary presents response
factors for two types of portable
hydrocarbon analyzers, the "OVA-108"
and the "TLV sniffer," for 168 different
chemical compounds. The response
factor is defined as the ratio of the actual
concentration to the observed concen-
tration (or instrument response) The
response factor varies with concentra-
tion. In a previous report (EPA-600/2-
81-002), the response factors were
presented at 10,000 ppmv actual
concentration of the compound. In this
summary, the response factors are
computed at a meter reading of 10,000
ppmv.
Table 1 presents response factors for
compounds on both types of instruments
along with the 95 percent confidence
intervals.
Two statistical methods were used
here to compute estimates and associ-
-------
•p
Table 1. Response Factors with 95% Confidence Intervals
Estimated at 10,000 PPMV Response
OVA
TLV
OCPDB*
ID No
70
80
90
100
110
120
125
130
150
170
200
250
2855
330
360
380
450
490
530
570
590
640
650
660
592
600
630
670
680
690
750
760
780
790
830
890
1740
930
960
210
970
980
990
1010
1040
1060
1120
1130
1140
1150
Compound
Name
A cetic A cid
Acetic Anhydride
Acetone
Acetone Cyanohydrin
Acetonitrile
Acetophenone
Acetyl Chloride
Acetylene
Acrylic Acid
Acrylonitrile
Allene
Ally 1 Alcohol
Amy/ Alcohol, N-
Amylene
An/sole
Benzaldehyde
Benzene
Benzonitrile
Benzoyl Chloride
Benzyl Chloride
Bromobenzene
Butadiene, 1,3-
Butane, N-
Butanol, N-
Butanol, SEC-
Butanol, Tert-
Butene, 1-
Butyl Acetate,
Butyl A cry late, N-
Buty/ Ether, N-
But yl Ether, Sec-
Butylamine, N-
Butylamine Sec-
Butylamine, Tert-
Butylbenzene, Tert-
Butyraldehyde N-
Butyric Acid
Butyronitrile
Carbon Disulfide
Chloroacetaldehyde
Chlorobenzene
Chloroethane
Chloroform
Chlorophenol, O-
Chloropropene, 1-
Ch/oropropene, 3-
Chlorotoluene, M-
Chlorotoluene, 0-
Chlorotoluene, P-
Cresol, 0-
Crotonaldehyde
Cumene
Cyclohexane
Cyclohexanol
Cyclohexanone
Cyclohexene
Volatility
Class**
LL
LL
LL
HL
LL
HL
LL
G
LL
LL
G
LL
HL
LL
LL
HL
LL
HL
HL
HL
LL
G
G
LL
LL
S
G
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
HL
LL
HL
LL
LL
LL
LL
G
LL
HL
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
S
LL
LL
LL
HL
LL
LL
Response
Factor
1.64 (
1.39 (
0.80 (
3.51 (
0.95 (
18.70 1
2.04 (
0.39 (
4.59 (
0.97 1
0.64 (
0.96 (
0.75 (
0.44 (
0.92 (
2.46 (
0.29 (
2.99 f
22.10 D (
15.30 D 1
0.40 (
0.57 (
050 (
1.44 1 (
0.76 (
0,53 (
0.56 (
0.66 (
0.70 (
2.60 f
0.35 (
0.69 (
0.70 f
0.63 f
1.32 (
1.29 f
0.80 (
0.52 f
B
9.10 (
0.38 f
5.38 1 f
9.28 (
4.56 f
0.67 f
0.80 (
0.48 f
0.48 f
0.56 f
0.96 (
1.25 (
1.87 (
0.47 (
0.85 (
1.50 (
0.49 (
Confidence
Intervals
1.11,
1 09,
0.57,
0.69,
085,
5.52,
1.72,
0.36,
3.38,
0.80,
0.60,
0.76,
0.57,
0.34,
0.65.
1.38,
0.28.
1.18,
3.43,
3.96,
0.34,
0.54,
0.46.
0.89,
0.70,
0.38,
0.51,
0.54,
0.63,
0.81,
0.21.
0.53.
O.58,
0.58,
0.89,
1.07,
0.38,
0.40,
5.73.
O.32.
1.87,
5.19.
1.72.
0.61,
0.72.
0.45,
0.42.
0.52,
0.70,
0.82,
1.10,
0.39,
0.65,
0.97,
0.42,
2.65)
1.86)
1.20)
> 100. 00)
1.06)
> 100.00)
2.48)
0.43)
6.57)
1 20)
0.69)
1.27)
1.04)
0.61)
1.46)
5.62)
0.31)
15.30)
> 100. 00)
>100.00)
0.48)
0.60)
0.55)
2.34)
0.83)
0.81)
0.62)
0.83)
0. 78)
95.60)
0.95)
0.98)
0.87)
0.70)
220)
1.61)
3.14)
0.74)
16.20
0.47)
26.40)
20.00)
27.2.0)
0.73)
0.90)
0.51)
0.55)
061)
1.45)
2.24)
3.71)
0.58)
1.20)
2. 76)
0.57)
Response
Factor
15.60
5.88
1.22
21 00
1 18
2.72
3.49
15.00
2.14
1.03
3.91
1.07
1.19
10.90
0.63
4.11
1.25
2.17
5.84
1.38
2.57
3.58
1.15
2.02
1.56
1.95
2.30
10.70
1.47
3.92
5.07
0.88
3.90
18.30
0.87
1.24
0.91
1.06
1.17
4.36
0.70
7.04
2.17
1
N
B
B
B
I
X
B
B
B
B
1
I
I
B
I
1
P
B
I
I
I
B
B
B
(
f
f
f
(
f
(
(
f
(
f
f
f
(
(
(
(
(
(
f
(
f
(
(
f
f
f
(
f
(
(
1
f
f
f
(
(
(
f
(
f
(
f
Confidence
Intervals
7.05,
2.71,
0.81,
1.09,
0.94,
1.65,
0.44,
9.68,
0.45,
0.59,
0.52,
096,
0.27,
8.11,
0.58,
2.16,
0.99,
1.34,
4.20,
1.15,
1.17,
1.82,
0.75,
1 14,
0.77,
1.42,
0.96.
6.53,
0.62,
1.87,
3.08,
077.
1.58,
6.50,
0.69,
1.08,
0.40,
0.33,
0.77,
0.40,
0.62,
1.59,
1.78,
46.20)
12.80)
200)
> 100 00)
1.52)
532)
27.90)
26.50)
> 100. 00)
2.59)
> 100. 00)
1.20)
> 100. 00)
15.40)
0.70)
7.83)
1 66)
443)
8.89)
1.70)
5.68)
7.04)
2. 1 7)
4.97)
524)
2.91)
12.80)
17.60)
3.48)
12.60)
979)
1.00)
14.10)
51.50)
1.16)
1.42)
747)
> 100 00)
1.77)
47.40)
080)
> 100. 00)
2. 74)
-------
Table 1. (Continued)
OVA
OCPDB*
ID No
1160
1190
1270
1215
1216
1244
1235
1236
2620
3110
1440
1870
1490
1495
1520
1480
1650
1660
1910
1670
1680
1690
1750
1990
1710
1770
1980
1800
2060
2105
2200
2350
2360
2370
2390
2450
2460
2500
1930
2510
2560
2640
2645
2665
2650
Compound
Name
Cyclohexylamine
Decane
Di acetone Alcohol
Diacetyl
Dichloro-1 -Propene, 2,3-
Dichlorobenzene, M-
Dichlorobenzene, 0-
Dichloroethane, 1, 1 -
Dichloroethane, 1,2-
Dichloroethylene, CIS 1,2-
Dichloroethylene, TRANS 1,2-
Dichloromethane
Dichloropropane, 1,2-
Diisobuty/ene
Dimethoxy Ethane, 1,2-
Dimethylformamide, N,N-
Dimethylhydrazine 1 , 1 -
Dimethylsulf oxide
Dioxane
Epichlorohydrin
Ethane
Ethanol
Ethoxy Ethanol, 2-
Ethyl Acetate
Ethyl Acetoacetate
Ethyl Acrylate
Ethyl Chloroacetate
Ethyl Ether
Ethylbenzene
Ethylene
Ethylene Oxide
Ethylenediamine
Formic Acid
Glycidol
Heptane
Hexane, N-
Hexene, 1-
Hydroxyacetone
Isobutane
Isobutylene
Isoprene
Isopropanol
Isopropyl Acetate
Isopropyl Chloride
Isovaleraldehyde
Mesityl Oxide
Methacrolein
Methacrylic Acid
Methanol
Methoxy-Ethanol, 2-
Methyl Acetate
Methyl A cetylene
Methyl Chloride
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Methyl Formate
Methyl Methacrylate
Methyl-2-Pentanol, 4-
Volatility Response
Class** Factor
LL
HL
HL
LL
LL
HL
HL
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
HL
LL
LL
G
LL
LL
LL
HL
LL
LL
LL
LL
G
G
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
G
G
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
HL
LL
LL
LL
G
G
LL
LL
LL
LL
0.57
0.09
1.45
1.54
0.75
0.64
0.68
078
095
1.27
1.11
2.81
1 03
0.35
1.22
4.19
1.03
0.07
1.48
1.69
0.65
1 78
1.55
0.86
382
0.77
1 99
0.97
0.73
0.71
2.46
1.73
14.20
6.88
0.41
0.41
0.49
6.90
0.41
3.13
0.59
0.91
0.71
0.68
0.64
1.09
1.20
0.82
4.39
2.25
1.74
0.61
1.44
0.64
3.11
0.99
1.66
(
N (
f
<
f
<
(
(
f
(
(
f
(
(
f
f
(
1 (
f
f
f
f
(
(
(
(
(
(
f
(
(
(
(
(
1 (
(
(
f
(
(
(
(
(
(
f
(
(
(
P (
f
{
<
(
(
(
(
f
Confidence
Intervals
0.42,
0.05,
0.96,
1 25,
056.
055,
0.47,
0.62,
077,
1.05,
0.98,
2.13,
0.82,
0.29,
064,
2.90,
0.77,
0.05,
1.04,
1.56,
0.44,
1.59,
1.26.
077,
1 89,
0.63,
1 70,
077,
0.52,
0.63,
1.95,
1 29.
10.60.
3.33.
0.28.
0.38.
0.39,
4.45.
0.29,
0.90.
0.46,
0.72,
0.62,
0.60,
0.57.
0.94,
0.90,
0.31.
3.61,
1.62,
1.46,
0.58,
1.22,
0.51,
2.42,
0.90,
1.27,
0.86)
> 100. 00)
2.48)
1.92)
1.09)
0.77)
1.11)
1.02)
1 22)
1.56)
1.27)
3.87)
1.33)
0.44)
3.61)
6.58)
1.45)
0.11)
233)
1.84)
1.58)
2.01)
1.96)
0.95)
10 70)
097)
236)
1.30)
1.11)
0.82)
3.29)
246)
19.80)
19.70)
0.60)
0.45)
0.66)
12.10)
1.04)
38.50)
0.80)
1.20)
0.83)
0.77)
0.74)
1.29)
1.71)
14.70)
5.60)
3.34)
2.13)
0.64)
1.76)
0.84)
4.14)
1.10)
2.32)
Response
Factor
1 38
0.16
0.98
328
1 75
236
1.26
1 86
2.15
1.63
1.66
3.85
1 65
1.41
1 52
5.29
2 70
8.45
1 31
2.03
069
1.82
1.43
560
1 59
1.14
4.74
1.56
2.40
326
5.66
0.73
0.69
4.69
15.20
0.55
1.39
1.31
0.98
2.19
3.14
349
1 06
201
3.13
1.85
6.79
1.84
1.12
1.94
2.42
2.00
(
1 (
(
(
f
(
(
1
(
f
(
f
<
(
(
(
{
1 (
f
(
1 f
X
(
(
(
X
f
f
D (
(
(
(
B
1
(
(
D (
f
(
B
X
(
<
(
D (
!
D f
1 f
(
f
(
(
/
(
f
(
f
TLV
Confidence
Intervals
1 28,
007,
044,
2.25,
1 14,
058,
035,
1 56,
1 66,
099,
067,
246.
1.06,
096,
0.65,
405,
051,
4 15,
070,
1 79,
021,
096,
1.07,
1 93,
040,
0.94,
1 38,
1 26.
0.96.
0.78,
2.08.
0.33.
0.63,
0.85,
6.11,
0.41,
0.94.
1.04.
0.82.
1.14.
1.43,
1.51,
0.24,
1.66.
1.13.
1.44,
4.86.
0.73,
0.93.
1.72,
1.39,
1.40,
1 48)
0.35)
593)
5.12)
3 18)
>10000)
> 100 00)
225)
292)
347)
1260)
688)
305)
240)
838)
7.20)
> 700 00)
17.20)
3.60)
233)
2.30)
5 12)
200)
3880)
> 100 00)
1 42)
61.30)
2.06)
> 100. 00)
> 100 00)
34 70)
6.10)
076)
> 100.00)
66.40)
0.81)
2.31)
172)
1.22)
6.65)
12.00)
19.80)
4.56)
2.48)
2740)
2.49)
10.40)
> 100.00)
1.38)
2.21)
5.38)
3.15)
-------
Table 1. (Continued)
OVA
TLV
OCPDB*
ID No
2660
2550
2540
2570
2670
2690
2700
2770
2790
2791
2795
2851
2973
3063
3066
3070
3090
3120
3130
3230
3290
3291
2860
3349
3393
3395
3400
3410
3420
3450
3510
3520
3530
3570
3550
3560
Compound
Name
Methyl-2-Pentanone, 4-
Methyl-3-Butyn-2-OL, 2-
Methylal
Methylanilme, N-
Methylcyclohexane
Methylcyclohexene, 1-
Methylpentynol
Methylstyrene, A-
Morpholine
Nitrobenzene
Nitroethane
Nitromethane
Nitropropane
Nonane-N
Octane
Pentane
Picolme, 2-
Propane
Propionaldehyde
Propionic Acid
Propyl Alcohol
Propylbenzene, N-
Propylene
Propylene Oxide
Pyridine
Styrene
Tetrachloroethane, 1,1,1,2-
Tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2,2-
Tetrachloroethylene
Toluene
Trichlorobenzene, 1 ,2,4-
Trichloroethane, 1 ,1,1 -
Trichloroethane, 1,1,2-
Trichloroethylene
Trichloropropane, 1,2,3-
Tnethylamine
Vinyl Acetate
Vinyl Chloride
Vinyl Propionate
Vinylidene Chloride
Xylene, P-
Xylene, M-
Xylene, 0-
Volatility
Class**
LL
LL
LL
HL
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
HL
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
G
LL
LL
LL
LL
G
LL
LL
LI
LL
LL
LL
LL
HL
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
G
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
Response
Factor
0.56
0.59
1.37
4.64
0.48
044
1.17
13.90
0.92
1.40
3.52
1.05
1.54
1.03
0.52
0.43
0.55
1.14
1.30
0.93
0.51
0.77
0.83
0.47
4.22
4.83
7.89
2.97
0.39
1.21
0.80
1.25
0.95
0.96
0.51
1.27
0.84
1.00
1.12
2.12
0.40
0.43
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
B 1
(
(
(
(
(
(
f
1 f
(
(
(
(
(
1
(
(
D (
(
(
(
/ (
f
1
(
(
(
(
f
1 (
(
{
(
{
Confidence
Intervals
0.46.
0.44.
1.06,
3.91,
0.28,
0.36,
0.71.
9.50.
0.67.
1.20,
3.03,
0.80,
0.94,
0.89,
0.42,
0.38,
0.46,
1.00,
1.03,
0.77,
0:45,
0.44,
074,
0.40,
3.45,
1.24,
5.01.
1.71.
0.36,
0.50,
0.72.
1.05,
0.83.
0.64,
0.40,
0.95,
0.61,
0.57,
0.87.
1.71,
0.36,
0.28,
0.69 1
0.86)
1.83)
5.57)
1.39)
0.54)
2.48)
21.50)
1.40)
1.65)
4.15)
1.48)
2.98)
1.21)
0.66)
0.50)
0.72)
1.32)
1.70)
1.16)
0.58)
2.66)
0.95)
0.55)
5.27)
>1 00.00)
13.80)
6.11)
0.43)
2.94)
0.90)
1.50)
1.09)
1.78)
0.70)
1.82)
1.38)
1.74)
1.52)
2.68)
0.46)
0.85)
Response
Factor
1.63
1.46
9.46
0.84
2.79
3.42
2.59
0.01
3.45
7.60
2.02
11.10
2.11
0.63
1.18
0.60
1.71
508
1.74
1.74
1.15
1.16
6.91
25.40
2.68
0.47
2.40
3.69
3.93
1.99
1.48
5.91
1.06
1.21
2.41
7.87
5.87
1.40
(
X
(
1 f
(
(
(
B
I (
1 (
(
(
f
(
(
(
(
P (
f
D (
f
B
1 (
f
(
B
(
f
B
D (
1 (
(
(
f
(
{
D (
(
I (
(
(
D (
(
Confidence
Intervals
1.22,
1.24,
2.55,
0.68,
1.79,
1.83,
0.64,
0.00,
1.56,
1.91,
1.17,
3.13,
1.68,
0.57,
1.08,
0.59,
1.11,
0.73,
1.06.
0.15,
0.69,
1.03.
3.14,
8.06,
0.79,
0.32.
1.81,
2.77.
2.68.
1.27,
0.96.
1.26,
0.59,
0.46.
1.82,
3.49.
0.91.
0.61,
2.35)
1.74)
35.20)
1.09)
5.12)
8.54)
10.50)
82.80)
13.00)
> 100. 00)
4.47)
> 100. 00)
2.75)
0.70)
1.29)
0.69)
3.06)
> 100. 00)
3.50)
20.30)
2.46)
1.34)
22.50)
>1 00.00)
> 100. 00)
0.68)
3.35)
5.16)
6.32)
3.82)
2.76)
> 100.00)
4.60)
3.20)
3.35)
24.90)
> 100. 00)
9.33)
^Organic Chemical Producers Data Base
**G=Gas; LL=Light Liquid; HL=Heavy Liquid.
Definition of Explanatory Data Codes:
I Inverse Estimation Method X No Data Available
D Possible Outliers in Data B 10,000 PPMV Response Unachievable
N Narrow Range of Data P Suspect Points Eliminated
-------
ated confidence intervals: the classical
regression method and the inverse
regression method. Both methods of
estimation essentially involve the fitting
of a line to the actual and instrument
observed concentrations. The interpo-
lated or extrapolated actual concentra-
lon at 10,000 ppmv observed concen-
ration is calculated based on the fitted
line. The response factor is computed as
he ratio of this estimated actual
concentration to the specified 10,000
ppmv "observed" concentration.
Most of the response factors and
associated confidence intervals were
calculated using the classical method;
those computed using the inverse
method are noted in Table 1 with the
explanatory code "I." Other explanatory
codes used in Table 1 indicate data
availability, data applicability, and
possible data uncertainties such as the
presence of outliers
In most cases the data fell very nearly
on a straight line, but sometimes they
did not When outliers were clearly
defined they were removed from the
data and the response factor recom-
puted This could not always be done.
Often it was not clear which data points
were valid and which were not. Addi-
tional data would be necessary to clarify
these situations. Since it was not clear
which points should be removed in
these cases, all points were included.
Table 2 lists compounds tested which
do not appear to respond at a 10,000
ppmv reading at any concentration. The
data and the fitted line showed that the
response appears to be well below
10,000 ppmv for feasible actual concen-
trations Sometimes it was not possible
to distinguish between this situation
and the problem of unresolved outliers
mentioned above. Questionable or
borderline cases are included in Table 1
rather than Table 2. Some of these
compounds have large estimated re-
sponse factors and wide confidence
intervals
Table 2.
Tested Compounds which Appear to be Unable to Achieve an Instrument
Response of 10,000 ppmv at any Feasible Concentration
OVA
TLV
OCPDB* Compound Name
OCPDB Compound Name
Acetyl-1 -propano/,3-
790 Carbon disulfide
810 Carbon tetrachlonde
Dichloro-1 -propano/,2,3-
Dichloro-2-propanol, 1,3-
Diisopropyl benzene, 1,3-
Dimethylstyrene,2,4-
1221 Fr eon 12
2073 Furfural
Methyl-2,4-Pentanediol,2-
1660 Monoethanolamine
2770 Nitrobenzene
2910 Phenol
Phenyl-2-Propanol,2-
120 Acetophenone
Acetyl-1-propano/,3-
130 Acetylene
160 Acrylic Acid
360 Benzaldehyde
450 Benzonitrile
490 Benzoyl chloride
530 Benzyl chloride
Butylbenzene, tert-
810 Carbon tetrachlonde
930 Chloroform
1040 Crotonaldehyde
1060 Cumene
1130 Cyc/ohexanol
Dichloro-1 -propano/,2,3-
Dichloro-2-propanol, 1,3-
Diisopropyl benzene, 1,3-
Dimethylstyrene,2,4-
2060 Formic acid
1221 Freon 12
2073 Furfural
2200 Isobutylene
Methyl-2,4-pentanediol
2690 Methylstyrene, A-
1660 Monoethanolamine
2910 Phenol
Phenyl-2-propanol,2-
Propylbenzene,N-
3230 Styrene
2860 Tetrachloroethylene
Organic Chemical Producers Data Base ID Number
D. A DuBose and G E. Harris are with Radian Corp., P.O. Box 9948, Austin, TX
78766.
Bruce A. Tichenor is the EPA Project Officer fsee below)
The complete report, entitled "Response Factors of VOC Analyzers at a Meter
Reading of 10,000 PPMV for Selected Organic Compounds," (Order No
PB 81-234 817, Cost. $6 50, subject to change) will be available only from.
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone. 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at.
Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory
U S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
US GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1981 757012 7330
-------
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Cincinnati OH 45268
Postage and
Fees Paid
Environmental
Protection
Agency
EPA 335
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
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4 11' ' H -1; v
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------- |