Piper Cole

Date of Award

2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Oberle, Brad

Area of Concentration

Botany with Chemistry Secondary Field

Abstract

This study examines one of the only low-cost vacuum source alternatives to expensive, commercial air samplers. The study utilizes common or easily sought materials to construct a DIY (Do It Yourself) air sampler with a total cost of $375.83. A GC-MS (gas-chromatography mass-spectrometer) was used to analyze floral volatile samples from eight orchid species and three hybrids. Standardized emission rates were calculated from the gas chromatograms for each sample and compared with each other based on the method. It was found that the DIY method and commercial air sampler did not differ significantly from each other when observing mean emission rate differences within specimens. However, once sampling order and hybrid status were considered, the commercial one tended to outperform. It is recommended that in future studies, the DIY sampler incorporates a regulatory valve to provide consistent airflow. To eliminate the effect that hybrids had on differing emission rates, this study should be performed only on true species.

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