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 Testing
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.

Common Sampling Methodology

Test Method		Constituent		Sampling Technique		Analysis
Methods 1 and 2		Gas Velocity		Pitot Tube		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 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
EPA Method 15		Hydrogen Sulfide Carbonyl Sulfide Carbon Disulfide		Constant Rate Sampling-Dilution of Sample with Air		Gas Chromatography/ Flame Photometric Detection (GC/FPD)
EPA Method 16		Total Reduced Sulfur Compounds		Constant Rate Extractive Sampling		GC/FPD
EPA Method 16B		Total Reduced Sulfur Compounds		Constant Rate Sampling-Oxidation of TRS to SO₂; Absorption of SO₂ into H₂O₂		Barium-Thorin Titration
Method 17		Total Particulate		Isokinetic In-Stack Sampling		Gravimetric
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 of 40 CFR 61	Mercury		Isokinetic - Absorption in Potassium Permanganate		CVAA
Method 201A of 40 CFR 51	PM_2.5 PM₁₀		Isokinetic Sampling-In-Stack Cyclone / Glass Fiber Filter		Gravimetric
Method 202 of 40 CFR 51	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 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

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