Abstract: A system for atmospheric monitoring is disclosed. Atmospheric dispersion of a plume is monitored by continuously releasing a tracer gas such as sulfur hexafluoride into the plume, collecting air samples downwind and analyzing the samples. The system includes plastic piston pump samplers having a locking outlet receiving removable nozzles or a lock-seal closure. The samples are analyzed by means of a tracer specific gas-chromatograph-electron capture (GC-EC) detector having a lock-seal inlet adapted to engage the sampler outlet. In a preferred system, the atmospheric samples are collected by automatic, sequentially operated samplers and analyzed by means of a plurality of GC-EC detectors operating in parallel such that the trailing oxygen band is eluted through the first detector as the last detector is being loaded. Thus, the system is in continuous operation and minimizes operator time, and 80 samples can be analyzed in one hour.

Abstract: Microencapsulated spheroids containing a coded, volatile electron absorbing substance are dispersed into a material to be regulated such as crude oil in a tanker. Samples of the material such as an oil spill are collected and the source of the material is determined by electron capture gas chromatographic detection of the electron absorbing substance.