Tedlar Bag Holding Time
November 10, 2017Tedlar Bag Holding Time
Today, numerous types of industries and educational institutes need to perform an analysis of the ambient air in different locations and conditions. Using Tedlar bags is one of the most common and effective ways to collect these air samples. Air samples need to be collected when conventional detection instruments are unable to detect minute concentrations of various types of:
- VOC (Volatile Organic Compound)
- CO (Carbon Monoxide)
- H2S (Hydrogen Sulfide)
- SH6 (Sulfur Hexafluoride)
- Methane
- Radon
- Other such gases
The air sample is collected using various methods however using Tedlar bags for storing the air samples is one of the most common and widespread methods worldwide.
Tedlar Bag Properties
Tedlar bags are also known as PVF (Polyvinyl Fluoride) bags. Aforementioned is an innovative material which is highly reliable for storing volatile compounds and gases most efficiently.
The Tedlar bag made of the material which is:
- High-temperature resistant polymer
- Chemically inert
- Abrasion-resistant
- Highly tensile
- Low absorption rate
- Corrosion resistant
- Non permeable
Tedlar bags are soft and flexible, making them excellent for storage even in smaller shipping containers. These can be filled using many different techniques, however, using a sampling pump remains the most popular almost everywhere.
Sampling pumps are low flow-rate pumps that connect to the Tedlar bag port valve using a Teflon tubing hose. That allows the pump to take in the air samples from the surrounding and fill the Tedlar bag without the risk of leakage or contamination.
Ideal holding time for air samples in Tedlar bags
Ideally, research studies have shown that Tedlar bags can retain the optimum and original quality of the collected air samples for around 48 hours. After this, within 72 hours, many of the VOCs and hydrocarbons may dissipate or react and get contaminated.
Ensure that you ship the collected air sample in the Tedlar bag within the first 24 hours to enable retention of sample quality. That helps to get accurate results in the laboratory analysis.
