Source Testing

Emissions/Source Testing Capabilities

Monitoring Solutions offers complete Source Testing with mobile labs fully equipped with CEMS and isokinetic sample trains. With full engineering, technical and compliance expertise we offer:

Compliance Testing	Stack Performance Testing
CEMS Certification & RATA	RICE – Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines
Guarantee Testing	Process Testing
Engineering Studies and more

Air Quality Services

Monitoring Solutions offers a full range of emissions testing services using wet method testing techniques, Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (CEMS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Our procedures follow EPA test methods listed in 40 CFR Parts 51, 60, 63 and 75 and methods published by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI), and the California Air Resource Board (CARB).

Emissions Testing is generally performed for compliance or engineering (performance or design) purposes, as described below:

Performance Engineering Testing

Engineering test data and results are used to improve the performance of a process or operating equipment or emission control devices. Often, deviations to published EPA, ASME, NCASI and/or CARB methods/procedures are proposed to either meet the desired objective or to make the test unacceptable to regulatory agencies. Monitoring Solutions also performs tests to verify sources are operating within compliance limits, or, to determine if a facility has room in their umbrella permit to increase production or add another process (emission source).

Monitoring Solutions has provided cost-saving solutions to performance problems and emissions reductions by performing the following projects:

Our performance engineering services have greatly reduced fuel usage while maximizing output and reducing emissions generated during combustion. ASME Methodology is often used for balancing fossil fuel boilers and measuring fuel flow.
Diagnostic testing of thermal oxidizers was performed to determine the temperature required to maintain the required destruction efficiency. Lowering the temperature reduced fuel consumption, which results in cost savings.
Emissions versus production rate curves are generated to allow clients to determine the optimum rate at which to operate their plant. Curves from engineering tests have also been used to assist facilities in preparing annual emissions reports by not over-reporting emissions generating while operating at less than full load.
Tasks typically performed for an engineering test are:

Attend pre-test meetings to understand objective of test and operating process
Discuss procedures/methods best suited to meet objectives
Complete Stack Test Plan
Perform Emissions Testing
Preparation of Emissions Test Report

Compliance Testing

Compliance testing is driven by operating permits or regulatory requirements. Procedures listed in EPA Methods are strictly followed. Alternative methods are used with approval of the appropriate regulatory agency. Tasks performed for a compliance test are:

Define scope of work - as required by operating permit, or, evaluate most appropriate procedures/methods
Submit stack test plan/protocols to regulatory agency
Emissions testing following methods/procedures stated in Test Protocol and approved by regulatory agency
Preparation of test reports according to regulatory authority specifications

Compliance testing includes initial certification and annual audits of facility Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (CEMS). CEM certifications/audits performed by Monitoring Solutions include:

7-day Zero, low level and high level calibration drift tests
Initial Certification Testing
Relative Accuracy Test Audits (RATAs) for Flow rate, O₂, CO₂, SO₂, NOx, CO, H₂S, TRS and VOC's

Monitoring Solutions CEMS data is continuously recorded in real time and monitored by on-site personnel to allow preliminary calculations and show trends (FTIR data is near real time). Preliminary concentrations/emissions are calculated after each run. Our personnel communicate immediately with client personnel if monitored concentrations do not appear to be normal or if preliminary concentrations indicate allowable limits may be exceeded. This is particularly useful when evaluating equipment performance for engineering testing, performing preliminary Part 60 and Part 75 RATA calculations (prevent having to repeat testing), and comparing emissions to compliance limits.

Industries Served

Industries served by Monitoring Solutions and processes tested include:

Petroleum and Ethanol Refineries
Coal Fired Utilities
Portland Cement and Lime Kilns
Biological Waste Incineration
Municipal Waste Incineration
Gas, Oil and Coal Fired Boilers
Grain Processing
Trona, Coal, Vermiculite and Gold Mining (processes)
Pulp and Paper
Acid and Fertilizer Pants
Asphalt Plants
Pollution Control Applications (Scrubbers, Baghouses, ESP's, etc.)
Natural Gas Turbines
Internal Combustion Engines

EPA Test Methodology

Test Method	Constituent	Sampling Technique	Analysis
Method 1	Gas Velocity	Pitot Tube	N/A
Method 2	Gas Velocity	S-Type Pitot	N/A
Method 3	Gas Molecular Weight	Integrated Tedlar Bag	Orsat
Method 3A	Oxygen/Carbon Dioxide	Constant Rate Extractive Sampling	Paramagnetic / Non-Dispersive Infrared (NDIR) Absorption
Method 4	Gas Moisture Content	Impinger Train	Volume/Gravimetric
Method 5	Total Particulate	Isokinetic Sampling	Gravimetric
Method 5F	Nonsulfate Particulate Matter	Isokinetic Sampling	Ion Chromatography, Weight, Gravimetric
Method 6	Sulfur Dioxide	Extractive Sampling-Absorption of SO₂ into H₂O₂	Barium-Thorin Titration
Method 6C	Sulfur Dioxide	Constant Rate Extractive Sampling	Ultraviolet (UV) Absorption
Method 7E	Nitrogen Oxides	Extractive Sampling	Chemiluminescence
Method 8	Sulfuric Acid Mist Sulfur Trioxide/Dioxide	Isokinetic Sampling-Absorption into IPA/H₂O₂	Barium-Thorin Titration
Method 9	Visible Emissions	Certified VE Reader	Plume Opacity
Method 10	Carbon Monoxide	Constant Rate Extractive Sampling	Non-Dispersive Infrared (NDIR)
Method 11	Hydrogen Sulfide	Extractive Sampling-Absorp. in Cadmium Sulfate	Iodometric Measurement
Method 12	Lead	Isokinetic Sampling-Absorption into Nitric Acid	Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS)
Method 13B	Fluorides	Isokinetic Sampling-Absorption of F into Water	Specific Ion Electrode
Method 15	Hydrogen Sulfide Carbonyl Sulfide Carbon Disulfide	Constant Rate Sampling-Dilution of Sample with Air	Gas Chromatography/ Flame Photometric Detection (GC/FPD)
Method 16	Total Reduced Sulfur Compounds	Constant Rate Extractive Sampling	GC/FPD
Method 16B	Total Reduced Sulfur Compounds	Constant Rate Sampling-Oxidation of TRS to SO₂; Absorption of SO₂ into H₂O₂	Barium-Thorin Titration
Method 16C	Total Reduced Sulfur (TRS)	Constant Rate Extractive w/SO₂ removal (Citrate Buffer), Thermal Oxidation and instrument analysis	TRS thermal oxidation Ultraviolet (UV) Absorption
Method 17	Total Particulate	Isokinetic In-Stack Sampling	Gravimetric
Method 18	VOC (organic compounds)	Constant Rate Extractive Sampling, or Integrated Bags/Cannisters	Gas Chromatography (individual quantification with mass spec., photo., flame, electron or other detection)
Method 19	Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂) Removal and Particulate, SO₂ and NOx Emission Rates	Fuel analysis, diluent (O₂/CO₂) analysis, combustion gas volumes/heat input	Formula Calculations
Method 23	PCDDs/PCDFs	Isokinetic Sampling-Absorption onto XAD Resin	High-Resolution Gas Chromatography/Mass Spec (HR GC/MS)
Method 25A	Total Hydrocarbons	Constant Rate Extractive Sampling	Continuous Flame Ionization Analyzer (FIA)
Method 26	Hydrogen Chloride/Chlorine	Extractive Sampling-Absorption of HCl in H₂SO₄, Absorption of CL₂ in NaOH	Ion Chromatography (IC)
Method 26A	Hydrogen Chloride/Chlorine	Isokinetic Sampling- HCl Absorption in H₂SO₄, CL₂Absorption in NaOH	IC
Method 29	Multi -Metals	Isokinetic Sampling-Absorption in Acidic Absorbing solutions	Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma (ICAP) Spectroscopy; Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spec. (GFAAS); Cold Vapor Absorption Spectroscopy (CVAAS)
Method 30B	Vapor Phase Mercury	In-Stack Paired Sorbent Trap	Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption (CVAA)
Method 101A	Mercury	Isokinetic - Absorption in Potassium Permanganate	CVAA
Method 201A	PM_2.5PM₁₀	Isokinetic Sampling-In-Stack Cyclone / Glass Fiber Filter	Gravimetric
Method 202	Condensible Particulate Matter	Extraction of Impinger Contents	Gravimetric
Method 320	Organic and inorganic compounds	Extractive Sampling	Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)
Method 321	Hydrogen Chloride	Extractive Sampling	FTIR
Method 323	Formaldehyde	Constant Rate Extractive Sampling with Midget Impingers	Colorimetric
Method 0011 of SW-846	Aldehydes and Ketones	Isokinetic Sampling-Absorption into DNPH	High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
Method 0030 of SW-846	VOC's	Extractive Sampling-Absorption of Organics onto Tenax/Charcoal Tubes	Low-Resolution Gas Chromatography/Mass spectrometry (LR GC/MS)
Standard Methods CTM-027 or 417E	Ammonia	Extractive Sampling-Absorption of NH₃ in H₂SO₄	Specific Ion Electrode