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Title: Rain and aerosol chemical composition obtained with newly developed automated sampling systems

Conference · · Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Pet. Chem., Prepr.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5432178

Rain and aerosol samples were collected concurrently for a number of rain events in the Research Triangle Park, NC recently with a newly developed automated rain sampler and an annular denuder system. The rain sampler collects sequential 0.3 mm aliquots of each rain event and simultaneously 1) measures and records the pH, conductivity and 2) stores the balance of the rain sample at sub-ambient conditions (NH/sub 3/ free conditions) for subsequent chemical analysis. Ambient concentrations of SO/sub 2/, HNO/sub 3/, HONO nitrates and sulfates are also collected concurrently over 12-hour intervals with an automated annular denuder method (ADM) recently developed by scientists at CNR and the USEPA. Data collected with the ADM will be correlated with the composition of the rain samples to examine the relationships between the rain chemistry and ambient pollutant concentrations. A previous study performed at the University of Virginia showed a high correlation (r/sup 2/ = 0.67) between the sulfate and acidity in the fine particles and the acidity and sulfate in the rain samples. This paper examines the relationship of HNO/sub 3/, HNO/sub 2/, and SO/sub 2/ in the ambient air to the sulfate and nitrate in the aliquots of rain collected.

Research Organization:
USEPA, Environmental Research Center, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
OSTI ID:
5432178
Journal Information:
Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Pet. Chem., Prepr.; (United States), Vol. 31:2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English