Sampling Materials

Overview

Sampling materials used throughout the odour measurement process (from obtaining a sample to analysis) require an absent or minimized inference with the odorant gas. The main criteria for the material of the sampling container/bag or device are outlined below:

• The material be inert with the odorous gas
• The material be odourless
• Material be of low permeability to prevent diffusion of odorant gas and outside environment across the material
• Opaque so as to prevent odorous gas from reacting/degrading with sunlight
• Impervious so as to
• Smooth surface

Inert Materials

Materials listed below are inert:

• Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, Teflon TM)
• the copolymer of Tetrafluoroethylene and Hexafluoropropylene (FEP)
• Polyethylene terephthalate (PET, Nalophan TM )
• glass (disadvantage: fragility)
• steel (advantage: high mechanical and thermal stability; disadvantage: not always chemically inert, condensations or other depositions)