Ormantine USA Ltd., Inc.

Ormantine USA are amongst the market leaders in the preparation, supply and analysis of passive environmental monitors for air quality analysis.

Our success has been built on providing a flexible and cost effective service that tailors the application capabilities of the monitors to exact customer requirements with added service of accurate and timely analysis - the ultimate solution for environmental monitoring.

The research activities for passive sampling technology commenced 18 years ago. Over the following years, the development of different types of passive samplers enabled the application range to widen considerably, with the result that there is now a choice of options for the environmental industry to plan their ambient air monitoring projects with greater accuracy. The technical knowledge acquired during the development phases enable us to provide a comprehensive technical back-up service, this combined with customer driven quality objectives, provide an ongoing path to excellence in all that Ormantine USA set to achieve.

Ormantine USA are major suppliers of ready to use passive samplers plus a comprehensive laboratory analysis service. Passive samplers (diffusion tubes) fulfill many of the logistical, analytical and economic requirements of an ideal air monitor. Their simplistic design provide a cost effective, easy to distribute and use sampler, and with the use of various formulations of absorbent, suitable for a wide range of inorganic and organic applications.

Technical data sheets for all types of active and passive air sampling are available on this website, these are backed up by a knowledgeable technical advice department - contact diffusion@ormenviro.com

Key applications include:

• Analysis of trends in ambient air quality for air quality control.
• Air monitoring for validation of air and soil dispersion models.
• Air quality analyzers for the evaluation of emissions management actions.
• Health & safety risk assessments including workplace air testing to monitor occupational exposure and personal air sampling for workplace safety.
• Ambient air sampling for environment impact assessments.
• Identification of sources of air and soil pollution.
• Impact of emissions including greenhouse gas emissions from industrial processes and factory sites.
• Air quality instruments for maintenance of air quality objectives.

Odor measurement from printing inks, wood protection, polymers, chemical coatings, varnishes, flooring (plastics/wood), furniture coverings, paints, emulsions amongst other items will become increasingly important with tightening legislation for the protection of the consumer. Consumer goods, new office interiors, household furniture, toys etc. can all emit harmful gases and can be monitored using equipment from Ormantine.

Paint, Adhesives & Varnish
Assess emissions of VOC from paints and varnishes during manufacture or post applications. Hazardous gas and odor monitoring of potentially harmful VOCs, even at low levels. Reporting of individual compounds or a sum of total VOCs (TVOC).

Plastic, Wood or Laminate Flooring
Use diffusion tube monitoring as a quality control during the installation of flooring materials, or as long term assessments of hazardous air pollutant emissions from plastic flooring in new or renovated buildings.

New Car Interiors
New vehicle upholstery and linings are manufactured from a high proportion of plastics. Using the VOC diffusion tubes or tedlar bags, monitor and measure the emissions from these materials to assess their impact on the car interior environment.

“A healthy indoor environment can be achieved by the controlling of sources and by eliminating or limiting the release of pollutants into the air.”

Passive samplers can monitor the indoor air quality, actively or passively, for the levels of VOCs, ozones, formaldehyde etc. Periods of monitoring can be set between 2 hours and 4 weeks.  

Applications:
Workplace air quality in offices and new buildings and indoor air surveys of developments on reclaimed land.

New Offices and Living Areas
Indoor air tests of emissions of VOC from paints and varnishes during manufacture or post applications. Innovative extraction and heating systems and sealed buildings may alter air circulation. VOC detectors can identify low levels of potentially harmful or odorous gases.

Building on Reclaimed Land
Many new building developments are erected on brownfield/ reclaimed land sites. Passive samplers will provide the means to monitor the internal and external ambient air quality to highlight areas where air toxics are detected, and also monitor the efficiency of remedial actions.

Industrial
Many industries have the potential to emit gases into the atmosphere. These may be monitored as part of their air pollution control mechanisms. Acid gases such as hydrogen fluoride and hydrogen chloride are common emissions from coal-fired power stations and other industry. Phosphates, CFCs, PCBs and PAHs are also emitted from a wide range of industries.

Traffic Management
Vehicular emissions from our rapidly increasing traffic systems can be monitored spatially or in co-location with auto analyzers. Passive samplers can provide long-term assessments for air modeling, dispersion model validation or determining air management areas. Applications: NO2, NO, SO2, BTEX, O3.

Sewerage/ Landfill
Landfill/ brownfield sites and sewerage plants emit odors which can make surrounding areas very unpleasant to live near. Passive sampling offers an inexpensive and simplistic means of monitoring and measurement of odor. Soil contamination with underground VOCs can be monitored using soil probes.

Agricultural
Measuring low concentrations of airborne pesticides are so vital in maintaining a healthy living environment. VOC samplers have a very high sensitivity and can detect very low levels of organo-phosphorous, pesticides and PCBs.

Silage Storage
Ammonia emissions contribute to the ever increasing problem of air pollution in rural areas. Monitor using Palmes diffusion tubes for long-term assessment (2-4 weeks).

Petrochemicals
By identifying the source of VOC from chemical and cleaning processes, stack emissions and patterns of airborne concentrations can be traced. Monitoring of VOCs, H2S and SO2.

Forestry
Passive samplers are the ideal tool for carrying out air dispersion modeling and spatial assessments of the effects of SO2, NO2 and VOC air pollution on our forests.

Volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (VOC and SVOC) can permeate through the soil at a rate dependent on the hydro-geological nature of the strata. Soil probes can be used for soil monitoring.

Landfill Sites
Today’s throw away culture is creating large quantities of waste products which in turn results in wide areas of landfill sites. Some of these sites are eventually remediated for development. Diffusion tubes/ soil probes can be used to trace the migration of VOC/ SVOC in landfill site soil substrates. This method of monitoring can also be used to ensure remedial techniques have been successful.

Contaminated Land Sites
Large areas of our open landscape are surrounded by industrial sites. Spillages of toxic or harmful solvents can occur. VOC diffusion tubes in conjunction with the soil probe can detect and track these spillages with accuracy. In agricultural areas, the use of pesticides can contribute to air pollution and possible health effects. Diffusion tubes will measure the levels of these complex chemicals in the air that we breathe.

Brownfield Sites
With the decline of many heavy industries, large sections of brownfield sites have been created and are subsequently being reclaimed for future development. The ‘cocktail’ of VOC chemicals in these sites can be identified and measured to assist remedial procedures.