Long-Term Sampling System for Continuous Dioxin Monitoring

Government agency regulations for dioxin emissions monitoring require an 8 hour manual sampling procedure for which complicated equipment, highly skilled technicians and extensive on-site preparation time are necessary. Short-term sampling does not provide representative data.

Currently there are no on-line monitoring system for dioxins and furans. In order to meet regulatory needs for emissions data for dioxins and furans, the AMESA® automated long-term sampling system from Environnement S.A. (Germany) was designed in the late 1990’s. The system carries TUV and MCERTS approvals.

The AMESA® consist of 2 major assemblies: the sample probe with cartridge box, and the control cabinet. The fully automated system uses the modified cooled probe method. This method has been validated against the filter-cooler method of EN 1948-1 and US EPA Method 23. A primary advantage of this method is that the cartridge box will capture dioxins in all 3 phases (gaseous, solid and liquid). Accordingly sample handling is greatly simplified when compared to the cooled probe and filter cooler method specified in EN-1948.

Upon completion of a sampling cycle, the XAD-II cartridge is exchanged and sent to a dioxin laboratory for dioxin/furan analysis. Beside dioxin and furans, the suitability of the system was also tested successfully for all unintentionally Persistent Organic Pollutants (u-POPs) as referenced in the Stockholm Convention.

Over the last 10 years, AMESA® has been installed in more than 160 applications globally, and in a variety of processes, including municipal and hazardous waste incinerators, cements plants, power plants, etc. The AMESA® become the virtual standard for continuous dioxin sampling. For example, in Belgium a complete network of approximately 50 AMESA® systems has been installed. Successful use of the equipment and data produced has resulted in the reduction of the total dioxin emissions by a factor of 20 in one region alone!

Additional features of the system include of a controller with color display and the capability for TCP/IP communications. This operation is very easily performed by use of a jog dial and the operating data protocol can be simply transferred via USB flash drive.

New for 2010, AMESA-M® version is designed for continuous mercury sampling. AMESA-M® meets the US EPA performance specification 12B, thus meeting the requirements of the new cement and boiler MACT rules.

Other options allow the system to be used for short term sampling of heavy metals, PM10 and PM 2.5.