One of the most common ways to collect air samples is using passive summa canisters. Equipment needs should be discussed with the project manager at the laboratory in order to ensure appropriate equipment is provided. Some aspects of the equipment, like the sample train can be customized to meet the needs of the project. Proper equipment can make or break a sampling event, below you will find the most common equipment for passive air sampling with summa canisters.

6 Liter Summa Canisters:

• Useful to collect as much sample volume as possible for low level analyses or if multiple analyses should be performed from the same canister.
• Can also be used to composite multiple samples into the same canister for Landfill Gas projects or Tier II projects.

3 Liter Summa Canisters:

• Useful to maintain a large sample volume but require shipping via FedEx or UPS as there is a 5-liter maximum for hazardous materials.

1.4 Liter Summa Canisters:

• Useful to collect samples for just a few analyses per canister. These are small and easy to carry. They are also equipped with a quick connect fitting and can fit inside the helium shroud we provide for soil gas collection.

Helium Shroud:

• Used to ensure there are no leaks between vapor pins and the summa canister, the shroud is equipped with a 50mL/min flow restrictor that fills a 1.4 Liter canister in 28 minutes.

Helium Analyzer:

• Can be checked out on a daily basis to ensure the helium shroud is flooded with helium before samples are collected.

Flow Controller:

• Controls the flow of air to allow a composite sample over a period of time. These can be calibrated to fit the needs of a project.

Sample Train:

• Allows the canister to be connected to a sample point and a field meter. The sample can be first drawn through the field meter to ensure no ambient air is entering the sample, then the flow can be diverted into the canister without disconnection. These can be customized depending on the type of sampling event.

Enthalpy can perform many analyses on differing matrices of air. We provide silanized summa canisters which makes them inert from reacting with the gas samples. This is important as un-silanized canisters can react with an air sample which can make the data less meaningful and damage the canister used.

For more tips on air sampling, check out our blog Tips for Successful Air Sampling in the Field.

For more information on air sampling equipment and air analysis please contact us here.