Total Carbon Analyzer TCA08

TCA08

Total Carbon Analyzer

Total Carbon Analyzer, Model TCA08 measures the Total Carbon content of suspended aerosol particles in real-time for air-quality monitoring applications. TCA08, is a revolutionary scientific instrument that measures the Total Carbon Content (TC) of suspended aerosol particles in near-Real Time.

Carbonaceous (OC + EC) matter is usually the largest contributor to PM2.5 mass. Conventional thermal analysis for the EC/OC content of aerosols gives data that is highly dependent on the thermal analysis protocol that is used: NIOSH vs. IMPROVE vs. EUSAAR. The Aerosol Magee Scientific TC-BC Method yields data that is in the ‘center’ of this range, but which can be related to primary reference standards. See also CASS or the following publication.

TCA08 is a rugged instrument suitable for laboratory and Air Quality monitoring applications. TCA-08 contains No Glass and requires No Gas.

KEY FEATURES

NO SPECIAL GAS AND NO SPECIAL QUARTZ GLASS REQUIRED
CONTINUOUS OPERATION AND ANALYSIS OF TOTAL CARBON CONTENT
RUGGED AND RELIABLE

The Aerosol Magee Scientific Total Carbon Analyzer collects a sample of atmospheric aerosols on a quartz fiber filter enclosed in a small stainless-steel chamber at a controlled sampling flow rate of 16.7 LPM. The default sampling time is 60 minutes but can be set from 20 minutes to 24 hours, depending on the ambient aerosol concentrations.
The instrument has two identical parallel channels, with the air flows being controlled by ball valves and solenoids. While one channel is collecting its sample, the other channel analyzes the sample collected during the previous period. At the end of the period, the valves switch over to provide continuous operation and continuous data.
After collecting the filter, two flash-heating elements combust the sample instantaneously in a small ‘analytic’ flow of filtered ambient air. This converts all the carbonaceous compounds into CO2 and creates a short, but large-amplitude pulse of CO2 in the analytic flow passed to the NDIR CO2 detector. The background level of CO2 in ambient air during the heating cycle is determined before, and after the heating cycle, the provide the baselines against which the combustion pulse is measured. The CO2 concentration over the baseline is integrated to give the Total Carbon content of the sample.
The chamber and combustion elements are cooled after analysis. At the end of the time-base period, the flow system of ball valves and solenoids switches over. The first channel collects the next period’s sample, while the second channel analyzes the previously collected sample.

PRODUCT INFO

AEROSOL MAGEE SCIENTIFIC

METHOD

The analytical system of the Aerosol Magee Scientific Total Carbon Analyzer is constructed entirely from stainless steel, making the instrument rugged, simple, and reliable. The analysis uses ambient air as the carrier gas. This eliminates the need for specialty gas supplies and greatly simplifies the installation, use, and maintenance of the instrument.

In contrast to existing methods, the TCA08 offers greater reliability, greater flexibility, and substantial operational cost savings for aerosol analysis.

The TCA08 can be used in online mode for continuous, real-time analysis: and offline mode to analyze previously collected samples.

ADVANTAGES AND BENEFITS

CONTINUOUS OPERATION
The time base for sampling and analysis is adjustable from 20 minutes to 24 hours.

NO GAS, NO GLASS
Ambient air is used as the analytical carrier gas at a very low flow rate. This eliminates the need for specialized gas supplies.

The analytical chambers are made of stainless steel: the instrument contains no fragile glass components.

OC/EC DETERMINATION
The Total Carbon Analyzer provides the result for TC.

Since {TC = OC + EC}, it follows that {OC = TC – EC}.

The Total Carbon Analyzer may be connected to a Model AE33 Aethalometer, which provides real-time data for BC, closely related to ‘EC’. The Aethalometer data is automatically combined with the TCA data to provide a full characterization of the carbonaceous component of the aerosol in near-real-time: TC, OC, BC (or ‘EC’).

CONTINUOUS OPERATION
One channel collects the sample, while the second parallel channel is being analyzed. Ball valves automatically switch between the two, every time base period, to provide continuous operation.

QUICK INSTALLATION, AUTOMATIC OPERATION
The instrument can be installed quickly with no specialized resources required. It operates automatically and recovers from power interruptions.

OC/EC DETERMINATION

Carbonaceous matter {TC = OC + EC} is often the largest contributor to PM2.5 mass. The Total Carbon Analyzer provides the result for TC.

Since {TC = OC + EC}, it follows that {OC = TC – EC}.

The Total Carbon Analyzer may be connected to the AE33 Aethalometer, which provides real-time data for BC, closely related to ‘EC.’ The Aethalometer data is automatically combined with the TCA data to provide a full characterization of the carbonaceous component of the aerosol in near-real-time: TC, OC, BC (or ‘EC’).

This is accomplished in a rugged, reliable instrument package suitable for laboratory, fieldwork, and routine Air Quality monitoring applications.

RUGGED INSTRUMENT

The Total Carbon Analyzer TCA08 is constructed in a rugged instrument package suitable for laboratory, field-work, and routine Air Quality monitoring applications.

OPERATION

Supply voltage: 100-240 V~, 50/60 Hz
Max power consumption: 600 W (Heaters 400 W, Sample pump 100 W, Analytic flow pump 25 W)
Airflow: Sample Airflow 16.7 LPM, Analytic Airflow 0.5 LPM
Time resolution: 60 min (default); user-selectable 20 min to 24 hours

ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING CONDITIONS

Indoor use, rack, or benchtop (instrument)
Altitude: up to 3000 m
Temperature range: 10 – 35 degrees Celsius (instrument)
Relative humidity range: non-condensing

MECHANICAL SPECIFICATION

Chassis: standard 19’’/9U, rack mount, constructed of sheet metal
Inlet plumbing requirement: the minimum overall height of the Total Carbon Analyzer (TCA) chassis and inlet tubing is 1.20 m. See Figure 1.
Weight: 50 kg

Figure 1. (left) Denuder efficiency test setup, and (right) sampling setup. The overall height of such a setup is 1.20 m.

CONNECTORS

Sampling airstream:

inlet: inner diameter 14 mm, outer diameter 18 mm, custom connectors. See Figure 2.
outlet: .1/4” NTPF

Analytic airstream:

inlet: 1/8’’’ NTPF
outlet: (internal, not brought to panel connector)

Communications:

6x COM, 4x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0, 3x power USB, Ethernet

Figure 2. Sampling line is divided into two channels and connected to the TCA inlet with a custom connectors. The outer diameter of the sampling line is 18 mm; the inner diameter is 14 mm. The sampling channels inside the TCA narrow to 12.7 mm, which is ½’’.

USER INTERFACE

8.4” SVGA display with LED backlight
Basic control: touch-screen
Optional control: standard PC keyboard and mouse
Red, Yellow, Green status LEDs

Title	Type	Download
Total Carbon Analyzer TCA08	SPEC SHEET	LINK
Total Carbon Analyzer TCA08 WP	WHITE PAPER	LINK
Rigler (2017) Offline validation of the New Total Carbon Analyzer	POSTER	LINK

Title	Author	Publication	Year	Link
Real-time source apportionment of fine particle inorganic and organic constituents at an urban site in Delhi city: An IoT-based approach	J. Prakash et.al.	Atmospheric Pollution Research, Volume 12, Issue 11, November 2021, 101206	2021	LINK
An overview of optical and thermal methods for the characterization of carbonaceous aerosol	D. Massabo et.al.	La Rivista del Nuovo Cimento (2021) https://doi.org/10.1007/s40766-021-00017-8	2021	LINK
The new TC-BC method and online instrument for the measurement of carbonaceous aerosols	Rigler, M	Atmos. Meas. Tech. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-4333-2020	2020	LINK
Comparative analysis of new observation methods for carbonaceous aerosol (OC/EC)	Deng-feng,NI, et. al.	China Environmental Science, 2020, 40 (12): 5191-5197	2020	LINK
Source identification of the elemental fraction of particulate matter using size segregated, highly time-resolved data and an optimized source apportionment approach	M. Manousakas et al.	Atmospheric Environment: X Volume 14, April 2022, 100165	2022	LINK
Quantifying the relative contributions of aqueous phase and photochemical processes to water-soluble organic carbon formation in winter in a megacity of South China	J. Tao et al.	Chemosphere Volume 300, August 2022, 134598	2022	LINK
Applying the total carbon–black carbon approach method to investigate the characteristics of primary and secondary carbonaceous aerosols in ambient PM2.5 in northern Taiwan	Katoch et al.	Science of The Total Environment Volume 936, 1 August 2024, 173476	2024	LINK
Optical properties and simple forcing efficiency of the organic aerosols and black carbon emitted by residential wood burning in rural central Europe	Cuesta-Mosquera et al.	Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 24, 2583–2605, 2024	2024	LINK
Highly Time-Resolved Apportionment of Carbonaceous Aerosols from Wildfire Using the TC–BC Method: Camp Fire 2018 Case Study	M. Ivančič et al.	Toxics, 11, 497; doi: 10.3390/toxics11060497, 2023	2024	LINK
Two-year-long high-time-resolution apportionment of primary and secondary carbonaceous aerosols in the Los Angeles Basin using an advanced total carbon–black carbon (TC-BC(λ)) method	M. Ivančič et al.	Science of the Total Environment 848 (2022) 157606	2022	LINK

WEATHER STATION SENSORS

Our new family of Weather station sensors for measurements of Air temperature, Pressure, Relative/Absolute humidity, Wind speed and Wind direction consists of:

1. The GMX300 Ambient Meteorological Sensor is a combined instrument mounted inside three doubled louvered, naturally aspirated radiation shields with no moving parts. It measures air temperature, humidity and pressure.

2.The GMX200 is a Wind speed and direction ultrasonic sensor and with an addition of an electronic compass it provides apparent wind measurements.

3.The GMX500 is a compact weather station (with temperature, pressure, humidity, wind speed and wind direction sensors).

For more information please refer to below brochure:

Weather_station_sensor_brochure_sheet_A4_v1

ALICAT FP-25 FLOW METER CALIBRATOR KIT

FP-25 Calibrator kit for Air Quality Monitoring needs. Portable mass flow standard that calibrates temperature, pressure, and flow for a variety of air samplers. NIST traceable readings with high accuracy for EPA reporting. Bluetooth and customized app makes remote calibration from your phone possible. Built in relative humidity sensor for even more accurate readings.

Flow Accuracy of +/- 1% of Reading – Even at Low Flow Rates
Accurate in Any Weather – From -30°C to +60°C and IP67 certified
Includes relative-humidity sensor accurate up to 95% RH

Specification sheet

PM2.5 SHARP CUT CYCLONE (SCC)

The Sharp Cut Cyclone (SCC) is designed to replace the US EPA WINS Impactor for PM2.5 sampling. It has proven advantages over the WINS because it is a dry system and does not require cleaning at frequent intervals. Since speciation sampling for particulates is not governed by an EPA FRM, the SCC may be freely utilized.

Particle Size Cut PM2.5 at 16.67 LPM
Ambient PM2.5 sampling
Indoor Air Quality sampling
Speciation sampling

Offline validation is important (1) to confirm the simplified Total Carbon Analyzer method and (2) to compare the offline analysis of ambient samples with the standardized OC/EC method. The new instrument does not use a glass chamber, high purity gases, and catalyst oxidation via MnO2. Experiments with series of different sucrose solutions and ambient filter punches showed that we have nearly 100% efficient combustion without glass, gas, and catalyst.

Yes, we did. In Ljubljana, urban background location, we showed that the online TC-BC method is equivalent to the standardized OC/EC method.

We are using two heating modules with heating wires in each chamber. In this way, we can rapidly heat the filter to 900 oC.

To get the combustion process as efficient as possible, we developed a two-stage heating thermal protocol. Firstly, the lower heater is turned on (analytic flow stream goes in an up-down direction, see Figure 3), which is rapidly heated up to 900 oC. In that way, we are sure that all the OC vapors passing the lower heater are converted to CO2. After the lower heater reaches the temperature of 900 oC the upper heater is turned on, so everything on the filter is really combusted.

These are used when the instrument is measuring online. When for example, CH1 is sampling PM on the filter, CH2 performs analysis of previously collected PM. After the end of the sampling timebase, the flows are switched. Now, CH1 is analyzing previously collected PM, CH2 is sampling new material. With that, we achieve almost zero “dead time” in measuring.

TCA08