Ambient formic acid in southern California air: A comparison of two methods, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and alkaline trap-liquid chromatography with UV detection

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Environmental Science and Technology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00071a019· OSTI ID:5397778

Grosjean, D ^[1]; Tuazon, E C ^[2]; Fujita, E ^[3]

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1. DGA, Inc., Ventura, CA (USA)
2. Univ. of California, Riverside (USA)
3. California Air Resources Board, Sacramento (USA)

Formic acid is an ubiquitous component of urban smog. Sources of formic acid in urban air include direct emissions from vehicles and in situ reaction of ozone with olefins. Ambient levels of formic acid in southern California air were first measured some 15 years ago by Hanst et al. using long-path Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). All subsequent studies of formic acid in the Los Angeles area have involved the use of two methods, either FTIR or collection on alkaline traps followed by gas chromatography, ion chromatography, or liquid chromatography analysis with UV detection, ATLC-UV. The Carbon Species Methods Comparison Study (CSMCS), a multilaboratory air quality study carried out in August 1986 at a southern California smog receptor site, provided an opportunity for direct field comparison of the FTIR and alkaline trap methods. The results of the comparison are presented in this brief report.

• OSTI ID: 5397778
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology; (United States) Vol. 24:1; ISSN ESTHA; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR QUALITY
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
DATA ANALYSIS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FORMIC ACID
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
INFRARED SPECTRA
LIQUID COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SMOG
SPECTRA