Time-Resolved Automated Volatile Organic Compound System (TRAVIS)

Volatile and semivolatile organic compounds (VOCs, SVOCs) are emitted into the atmosphere from a variety of sources, including chemical front plants and vehicle emissions. However, these chemicals may evolve over time due to dynamic atmospheric conditions, particularly with respect to altitude. The products of these chemical changes may significantly influence air quality, ozone formation, and other atmospheric processes. Therefore, improved volatile chemical characterization along the atmosphere’s vertical profile may improve our understanding of chemical changes and, more importantly, may allow for the prediction of atmospheric phenomena.

To address this knowledge gap, the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) has developed a robust, accurate, and lightweight field sampling system for VOCs and SVOCs called the Time-Resolved Automated Volatile organIc compounds Sampling (TRAVIS) system. While it may be deployed at ground level, TRAVIS is best leveraged in concert with an unmanned aerial system to sample volatile chemicals from various altitudes. TRAVIS allows for the collection of eight separate samples via an automated system with precise sample volume. The collected samples are then analyzed by EMSL’s thermal desorption gas chromatography–mass spectrometry system.

Research application

• Supporting the Terrestrial-Atmospheric Processes Integrated Research Platform, TRAVIS collects samples that quantitatively and qualitatively inform atmospherically relevant VOCs and SVOCs from biogenic (e.g., trees) and anthropogenic (e.g., urban pollution) sources. TRAVIS can be requested through the Facilities Integrating Collaborations for User Science (FICUS) program and Large-Scale Research proposal calls.
• Supporting the Biogeochemical Transformations Integration Research Platform, this capability informs microbial metabolism and carbon cycling for above- and belowground VOCs/SVOCs.
• Supporting the Rhizosphere Function Integrated Research Platform, this capability informs plant root VOCs that are key factors for shaping plant health, the soil microbiome, soil organic matter formation, and soil carbon sequestration.

Tips for success

• Tenax sorbent tubes are ideal for atmospheric VOC sample collection.
• Users should select tubes based on the range of carbon numbers of interest.
• It is suggested to collect replicate samples and blanks whenever possible.