THE ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION
PROGRAM
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Batteiie
Business of Innovation
ETV Joint Verification Statement
TECHNOLOGY TYPE: SEM I-CONT I NUOUS AMBIENT AIR MONITOR
APPLICATION: MEASUREMENT OF GASES AND AEROSOLS IN
AMBIENT AIR
TECHNOLOGY NAME: MARGA ADI 2080
COMPANY: Applikon Analytical B.V.
ADDRESS: De Brauwweg 13 PHONE: +31 10 2983555
3100 AC Schiedam FAX: +31 10 4379648
The Netherlands
WEB SITE: www.applikon.com
E-MAIL: analyzers@applikon.com
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established the Environmental Technology Verification
(ETV) Program to facilitate the deployment of innovative or improved environmental technologies through
performance verification and dissemination of information. The goal of the ETV Program is to further
environmental protection by accelerating the acceptance and use of improved and cost-effective technologies.
ETV seeks to achieve this goal by providing high-quality, peer-reviewed data on technology performance to
those involved in the design, distribution, financing, permitting, purchase, and use of environmental
technologies. Information and ETV documents are available at www.epa.gov/etv.
ETV works in partnership with recognized standards and testing organizations, with stakeholder groups
(consisting of buyers, vendor organizations, and permitters), and with individual technology developers. The
program evaluates the performance of innovative technologies by developing test plans that are responsive to
the needs of stakeholders, conducting field and laboratory tests (as appropriate), collecting and analyzing data,
and preparing peer-reviewed reports. All evaluations are conducted in accordance with rigorous quality
assurance (QA) protocols to ensure that data of known and adequate quality are generated and that the results
are defensible.
The Advanced Monitoring Systems (AMS) Center, one of six verification centers under ETV, is operated by
Batteiie in cooperation with EPA's National Risk Management Research Laboratory. The AMS Center
evaluated the performance of a field portable ion chromatograph, a semi-continuous monitor for determining
gases and soluble ions in aerosols. This verification statement provides a summary of the test results for
Applikon MARGA ADI 2080 instrument.
VERIFICATION TEST DESCRIPTION
The verification test was conducted over a period of 30 days (October 1 to October 31, 2008) and involved the
continuous operation of duplicate semi-continuous monitoring technologies at the Burdens Creek Air Monitoring
Site, an existing ambient-air monitoring station located near EPA laboratories in Research Triangle Park, North
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Carolina. Duplicate, integrated denuder/filter pack reference samples were collected over 12-hour sampling
intervals throughout the testing period, from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm and from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am daily. The
denuder/filter pack samples were collected and analyzed by North Carolina State University (NCSU).
Additionally, the MARGA units were collocated with separate continuous gas analyzers for sulfur dioxide (SO2)
and ammonia (NH3), which were operated and maintained by EPA staff throughout the testing period. The
accuracy of the monitoring technology was determined through comparisons to modified EPA reference methods
for individual gaseous and particulate species. Modifications to the reference methods consisted primarily of
increasing the sampling flow rate from 3 L/min, as used in the Clean Air Status and Trends Network
(CASTNet), to 10 L/min to reduce overall sampling times and help minimize measurement bias and
uncertainties, while still meeting the data quality objectives of this verification test. The precision of the semi-
continuous monitoring technology was determined from comparisons of paired data from duplicate units
(identified as "MARGA1" and "MARGA2"), and through comparisons to pooled results of the reference
methods. Other performance parameters such as data completeness, maintenance requirements, ease of use, and
operational costs were assessed from observations by the Battelle field testing staff. This test was not intended to
simulate long-term performance of semi-continuous monitoring technologies at a monitoring site.
QA oversight of verification testing was provided by Battelle and EPA. Battelle technical staff conducted a
performance evaluation audit of the reference method sample collection and analysis procedures performed by
NCSU. Additionally, Battelle QA staff conducted a technical systems audit of the field testing and analytical
procedures and a data quality audit of at least 10% of the test data. This verification statement, the full report on
which it is based, and the test/QA plan for this verification test are all available at
www.epa.gov/etv/centers/centerl.html.
TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION
The following description of the MARGA ADI 2080 is based on information provided by the vendor. The
technology description was not verified in this test.
The MARGA ADI 2080 is an on-line analyzer for semi-continuous measurement of gases and soluble ions in
aerosols. The MARGA utilizes a wet rotating denuder (WRD) to collect acid gases and ammonia by diffusion
into an aqueous film. Particles pass through the WRD and are collected in a steam jet aerosol collector (SJAC).
Within the SJAC, a supersaturated environment is created which grows particles by a process known as
deliquescence, allowing them subsequently to be collected by inertial separation. As cooling takes place, steam
condenses and washes the collected particles into an aqueous sample stream. The aqueous solutions from the
WRD and SJAC are subsequently analyzed by ion chromatography (1C) for soluble anions and cations.
Software integrated within the MARGA calculates atmospheric concentrations based on air sample flow rate
and the ion concentrations in the collected solutions.
The MARGA ADI 2080 ambient air monitor components:
U A sampling box
a An analytical box
u Industrial PC (IPC) with keyboard/mouse and screen
a ADI 2080 ambient air monitor software
U Programmable logic control input/output modules, and software
a Applikon pump modules and stainless steel analyzer cabinet
a Polypropylene rack with steel inner body
U Uninterrupted power supply
a Air pump with mass flow controller
The MARGA software running on the IPC controls the instrument and provides a user interface. In addition, the
analyzer can be checked and controlled remotely via an internet or modem connection.
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VERIFICATION RESULTS
Parameter
Evaluated
Accuracy
Accuracy
Precision
Precision
Data completeness
Method of
Evaluation
Regression analysis
comparison to
reference samples
Calculation of median
absolute relative
percent difference
(MARPD) between
MARGA results and
reference method
results
Comparison of results
from duplicate
monitoring systems
Comparison of
MARPD of 12-hour
average MARGA data
and 95th percentile of
pooled relative percent
difference results from
reference
measurements (RPD95)
Ratio of number of
valid samples collected
to number of potential
samples that could
have been collected
Results
MARGA 1
Analyte
Slope
SO2 1.00 (1.09a)
HNO3 1.53*
NH3 0.14
SO42 0.92
NO3" 0.48*
NH4+ 0.82*
Analyte
S02
HNO3 **
NH3 **
so42-
NO3- **
NH4+**
Analyte
S02
HNO3
NH3
so42-
NO3-
NH4+
Analyte
S02
HNO3
NH3
so42-
NO3-
NH4+
Intercept
(Hg/m3)
1.00 (0.60a)
-0.07*
0.20
0.68
0.19*
0.08*
MARGA 2
, Intercept
Slope , . 3'
(Hg/m3)
1.09 0.57
1.51* -0.01*
0.21 0.10
0.87 0.63
0.40* 0.25*
0.85* 0.21*
MARPD
MARGA 1 MARGA 2
59% 53%
42% 43%
41% 64%
35% 35%
66% 69%
24% 29%
RPD95
76%
51%
121%
57%
168%
137%
Average % of Valid Data
per Day (e.g., per 24
Tar§et hours)
Analyte
MARGA 1
SO2 91%
HNO3 91%
NH3 90%
SO42" 90%
NO3" 91%
NH4+ 90%
Na+ 90%
Ca2+ 90%
cr 91%
MARGA 2
90%
90%
90%
90%
90%
90%
90%
90%
90%
Precision
5%
12%
18%
9%
8%
20%
12-Hour MARPD
5%
10%
26%
10%
6%
23%
Average % of Valid
Data per Reference
Sampling Period (e.g.,
per 12 hours)
MARGA 1 MARGA 2
94% 98%
85% 98%
93% 97%
94% 98%
95% 99%
93% 98%
94% 96%
NA NA
40% 90%
Results in bold indicate that the target performance goal, established by EPA in consideration of the monitoring needs of
CASTNet, was met.
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VERIFICATION RESULTS (Cont.)
Reliability
Reliability
Reliability
Ease of use
Maintenance
Consumables/waste
generated
Percentage of time in
operating mode
Time to start-up after
power interruption
Number of site visits
per week
Operator observations
Operator observations
Operator observations
MARGA 1 : 95% MARGA 2: 96%
MARGA 1 : Not tested MARGA 2 : < 2 hours
MARGA 1 : 1.6 MARGA 2: 1.6
Installation was not observed as part of this verification
(typical installations are performed in 3-4 days according to the
vendor).
Routine operations of the instrument were generally easy with
the only regularly scheduled tasks being solution preparation
and changing, and filter replacement.
Routine maintenance consists of preparing and
changing/refilling solutions and replacement of particle filters.
Non-routine maintenance observed included wet rotating
denuder replacement, syringe pump maintenance, and PC
reboot to restart data acquisition.
Cation and anion eluents, and absorbing solution refilled
weekly
Supressor regenerant and internal standard refilled monthly
Internal filters replaced weekly
Waste emptied weekly
* Duplicate denuder/filter pack reference method results do not meet target performance goals and are not appropriate for
evaluation of MARGA performance.
** Reference method data (other than SO42~) did not meet the data quality objectives (DQOs) set forth for this evaluation
(MARPD < 20%). Comparisons of reference method data to MARGA data are presented, but it should be noted that the
reference data did not meet the DQOs.
a Values for slope, intercept, and r2 with removal of one outlier that occurred immediately after a power failure.
Original signed by Lisa McCaulev
9/10/09
Lisa McCauley Date
Operations Manager
Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Operations
National Security Global Business
Battelle
Original signed by Sally Gutierrez
9/29/09
Date
Sally Gutierrez
Director
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Office of Research and Development
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
NOTICE: ETV verifications are based on an evaluation of technology performance under specific,
predetermined criteria and the appropriate quality assurance procedures. EPA and Battelle make no expressed or
implied warranties as to the performance of the technology and do not certify that a technology will always
operate as verified. The end user is solely responsible for complying with any and all applicable federal, state,
and local requirements. Mention of commercial product names does not imply endorsement.
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