Technical note: GUARD – an automated fluid sampler preventing sample alteration by contamination, evaporation and gas exchange, suitable for remote areas and harsh conditions
<p>Automated water sampling devices adapted to field operation have proven highly useful for environmental research as well as in the public and private sectors, where natural or artificial waters need to be tested regularly for compliance with environmental and health regulations. Such aut...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2018-08-01
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| Series: | Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |
| Online Access: | https://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/22/4281/2018/hess-22-4281-2018.pdf |
| Summary: | <p>Automated water sampling devices adapted to field operation have proven highly useful
for environmental research as well as in the public and private sectors,
where natural or artificial waters need to be tested regularly for compliance
with environmental and health regulations. Such autosamplers are already
available on the market in slightly differing versions, but none of these
devices are capable of sealing the collected samples to prevent sample
alteration by contamination, evaporation or gas exchange. In many sampling
cases, however, this feature is essential, for instance for studying the
hydrological cycle based on isotopes in rainwater, or for monitoring waters
contaminated with toxic gases or other volatile compounds detrimental to
biota and human health. Therefore, we have developed a new mobile
autosampler, which injects water samples directly into airtight vials, thus
preventing any sample alteration. Further advantages include low production
costs, compact dimensions and low weight allowing for easy transport, a wide
range of selectable sampling intervals as well as a low power consumption,
which make it suitable for long-term applications even in remote areas and
harsh (outdoor) conditions due to its heavy-duty water-proof casing. In this
paper, we demonstrate (1) the sampler's mechanical functioning, (2) the
long-term stability of the collected samples with regard to evaporation and
gas exchange and (3) the potential of our device in a wide variety of
applications drawing on laboratory and field experiments in different karst
caves, which represent one of the most challenging sampling environments.</p> |
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| ISSN: | 1027-5606 1607-7938 |