1.

ABSTRACT
This experiment study about the quality of the ambient air in UTM
using a High Volume Air Sampler (HVS). Ambient air at Faculty of Petroleum
and Renewable Energy is used as the sample for this study. The High Volume
Air Sampler (HVS) is filled with the filter paper. The increasing of filter paper
weight was recorded to study the quality of ambient air.
The weight of filter paper after sampling is increasing about 0.0089 g.
From the calculation, the Total Suspended Particle (TPS) in the ambient air at
UTM is 31.79 g/m3 after 4 hours of experiment.

2.0

INTRODUCTION
The high-volume air sampler is the workhorse of air sampling and
monitoring. The sampler uses a continuous duty blower to suck in an air
stream. When fitted with a particle size classifier, it separates particles greater
than 10m size from the air stream. The air stream is then passed through a
filter paper to collect particles lesser than 10m size (PM10). Gravimetric
measurements yield values of suspended particulate matter (SPM), as the sum
of the two fractions, and PM10, the material retained on the filter paper.
The filter paper can be used to determine benzene-soluble organics,
metals, such as Pb, Cd, etc., fluorides, radioactive materials and biologically
active non- metals, sulphate, nitrate and ammonium. The sampler can also be
used to sample gaseous pollutants. A stream of unfiltered air is bubbled
through a reagent, which either reacts chemically with the gas of interest or
into which the gas is dissolved. Wet chemical techniques are then used to
measure the concentration of the gas.

3.0

LITERATURE REVIEW
An air pollutant is known as a substance in the air that can cause harms
to humans and the environment. It may cause respiratory diseases and

reducing life expectancy of human. Pollutant can be in form of solid particles,

liquid droplets or gases.
Air pollutants can be classified as either primary or secondary. Primary
pollutants are substances directly emitted from a process, such as ash from a
volcanic eruption. While secondary pollutant forms in the air when primary
pollutants react or interact. The concentration of suspended particle is usually
expressed as g/m3 which is the mass of suspended particles per meter cube of
volume air.
Suspended solid is measured by using a High Volume Air Sampler
(HVS). Large volumes of air are drawn through a filter by a pump. This
procedure usually done continuously for 24 hours. The Total Suspended
Particle (TSP) standard for Malaysia is 260 g/m3.
Equation
Concentration of Suspended solid in air =

10 6 (W 2W 1)
Q xt

Where,
W2 = Weight of filter paper after sampling, g
W1 = Weight of filter paper before sampling, g
Q = Volumetric flow rate inlet air HVS, m3/hr
t = Time for sampling, hour
106 = Conversion from g to g

8.0

NOMENCLATURE
HVS
TPS
UTM
Q
t
W2
W1

9.0

= High Volume Air Sampler

= Total Suspended Particle
= Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
= Volumetric flow rate inlet air HVS, m3/hr
= Time for sampling, hour
= Weight of filter paper after sampling, g
= Weight of filter paper before sampling, g

REFERENCES
1. www.doe.gov.my/apims
2. http://aqicn.org/map/malaysia/

10.0

APPENDICES