Signature Science, LLC. | LESS™: Active Sorbent Tube Samplers

LESS™: Active Sorbent Tube Samplers

National Security

Homeland Security

Environmental

Public Safety

Technology for Indoor and Outdoor Air Sampling

LESS™ Universal Manifold

• Capacity for 28 sorbent tubes (3½ ”L x ¼” OD /

89mm L x 6.4mm OD)

• Dual flow paths (two isolated 14-tube banks), each

with pump and independent, programmable flow path

• Enables variety of collection scenarios including 24

hourly samples with multiple duplicate samples or

distributed volume pairs per EPA Method TO-17

• Tamper-proof latching mechanism

• Sorbent tubes are individually sealed within manifold

LESS™ -P

• Flow ranges 0-30, 0-200, 0-1000mL/min

• Operational power consumption as low as 2 Watts

• Run times up to 36 hours on a single charge

• Bluetooth Android Interface (Pending)

• Weatherproof enclosure

LESS™ -I

• Flow ranges 0-30, 0-200, 0-1000mL/min

• Multitude of communication options

• 14 available inputs for external sensors

• Robust operating system

• NEMA 4 enclosure for permanent installation

LESS™ -BT

• Flow ranges 0-30, 0-200, 0-1000mL/min

• Touch screen display and interface

• Color options available

Signature Science offers an innovative technology for indoor and outdoor air sampling and monitoring which provides efficient, cost-effective collection of airborne compounds for environmental, process, forensics, or industrial hygiene applications.

The Logistically-Enabled Sampling System (LESS™) (Patent Pending) samplers feature a 'plug-n-play' manifold with the capacity for 28 individually-sealed industry standard sorbent tubes. Within the sampler is a common manifold with dual flow pathways (14 sampling positions for each pathway), dual flow meters and dual sampling pumps that allow active sequential, replicate, or distributed volume pair sampling. The configuration is designed for ease of manifold and/or sample tube removal and replacement.

The unit can be programmed to automatically collect samples in a user specified order and duration at two distinct flow rates (one per flow path) ranging from 5 – 1000 mL/minute and will record the tube position, collection start and stop time, and flow rates during collection.

The LESS™ sampling technology is currently offered in three formats: LESS™-P, LESS™-I, and LESS™-BT.

Technical Data

In two recent studies to demonstrate equivalence to traditional environmental collection methodologies and equipment, the LESS™ was compared to commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) air sampling pumps with commercially available thermal desorption tubes. Samples collected for each study were compared to the traditional technology. For the first study, samples were collected from a standard atmosphere to test the recovery efficacy of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylenes (BTEX); which are commonly found in ambient air, contaminated soil, and ground water. Collections for BTEX with the LESS™ sampler provided better precision and accuracy than similar collections with a COTS air sampling pump. The second study challenged the LESS™ sampler over a wide range of volatility with 109 target analytes, demonstrating comparable recovery and correlation to the air sampling pump. Other studies with the LESS™ have included forensics sampling to determine illicit activities such as the production of banned chemical or explosive materials.

Integration Support

The LESS™ design enables the integration of sensors (e.g., wind direction, wind speed, chemical detection) that can trigger sampling events. Signature Science has dedicated field personnel and technical partners with the experience to support both short-term and long-term air monitoring programs at a variety of locations throughout the U.S. and abroad. Furthermore, our design and fabrication staff is cross-trained in all disciplines of the hardware development process, providing the necessary expertise to support custom systems integration efforts. Signature Science employs engineers, chemists, microbiologists, statisticians and technical support personnel and partners with other scientific and logistical personnel that can regularly augment our team.

Applications

Environmental air monitoring
Occupational health and safety
Green building programs/materials emissions
Vapor intrusion studies
Community air toxics monitoring
Fence line monitoring
Chemical Forensics
Food, flavor, fragrance, and odor characterization

Customer Profile
Homeland Security, Federal, State, and Local Air Quality Monitoring/ Management Districts, Indoor Air Quality Specialists, Ambient Air Monitoring Specialists, Air Quality Consultants, Flavor and Fragrance Chemists, Toxicologists, Industrial Hygienists, School Districts, EHS Managers, OEM Manufacturers, Office Building Managers.