AboutDavid L. Russell, PE Expertise I`m a Chemical,Civil and Environmental Engineer and have a number of projects in all phases of the environment.
I have worked in the chemical industry and am active in professional societies, and am currently on an industrial wastes committee for the Water Environment Federation, and have taught courses in remediation in the US and abroad.
I have written one book on Remediation of petroleum Contaminated Sites, and have a second book on PRACTICAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT to be published by John Wiley in September, 2006. I've also written over 30 articles on various elements of environmental problems and cleanup. Most Recently, I have addressed a NATO Scientific and Techical Conference on Ecoterrorism, and have worked with the same group on remediation of sites contaminated with Chemical Warfare Agent materials and othe materials as well. . I can answer q`s about Chemical and Environmental Engineering, land development, air pollution, water pollution, soil and water cleanup, combustion, international environmental problems, industrial processes chemical processes. Civil and Environmental and Chemical Engineering. Overall, I have over 35 years of experience in this area. Note: I do not answer homework questions
Experience I love work in the third world and developing areas
because it is challenging and one can get a sense of accomplishment.
Question "The test is one of two. Let me be as specific as possible. First about the sample gathering. That's done with a Tedlar bag. Tedlar is a relatively inert plastic. It can also be done with a mylar bag. The problem is that you have to start from sheet film and tape, (both of the material) and then find a valving arrangement of teflon or something like it. Once that's assembled, you must make a bag out of tedlar or mylar using the tape. It's not difficult becuase you are making a pillow or something like an inflatable child's toy. Square or round shape at your option.
Next you have to locate an oil less pump and some teflon or tygon tubing. If you have a pump you can pump the air from your area directly into the bag and then run it off to the laboratory once you close the valve.
The other way to take the sample is to go to the laboratory and have them set up 4-5 flasks for you. The flasks will contain a vacuum. Once you smell the odor, open the flasks and the air from the room will enter them along with the odor. Then reseal them and take them back to the laboratory.
The tests that I belive you want to run are Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrographic Analyses. Depending upon the lab and their availability, you may be able to have the samples analyzed for several hundred to a thousand dollars. Again, that depends upon the lab.
For that you should get a report to tell you what the principal substances you have in the flask are. The analytical work is somewhat tricky and by no means a sure thing."
How can I find a lab or company in Arizona that can help me with this? I have a home odor in a very clean house and can't find it. Thanks for the help,
That should list a number of indoor air quality experts who can help you.
As I recall, because the language looks familiar, I believe that I wrote the original information you included. I was trying to get you to perform the sampling and work yourself and save you some $$. The going rate for the expert consultant may be as high as $250/hr + laboratory fees, so you may be in for an expensive ride unless you want to try and do it yourself.
Good luck.
PS. Tedlar and Mylar and their tapes can be purchased from laboratory supply companies such as Fischer Scientific, and for all that I know they may even have bags you can purchase.
