Evaluation of methodology and prototype to measure atmospheric sulfuric acid. Final report, September 1976-November 1978

Technical Report · Wed Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979

OSTI ID:5411616

Snyder, R E; Tonkin, M E; McKissick, A M

A method was developed to selectively assay ambient sulfuric acid aerosol. The method uses the vapor of a volatile amine (or amine derivative) to neutralize the acid as it is collected on a Teflon filter. The amine sulfate thus formed is thermally decomposed at 200 degrees C to release sulfur dioxide, or other stoichiometrically related sulfur containing adducts, which are measured by a flame photometric detector. Immediate chemical fixation of the acid lessens the chance of side reactions with other substances on the filter, while the relatively low decomposition temperature aids in eliminating other sulfur-containing particles. Sulfur dioxide is also collected as a reagent complex on the filter, but is selectively removed by heating at 100 degrees C.

• Research Organization: Atlantic Research Corp., Alexandria, VA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5411616
• Report Number(s): PB-80-107055
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400104 -- Spectral Procedures-- (-1987)
500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AEROSOLS
AIR FILTERS
AIR POLLUTION
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY
EQUIPMENT
FILTERS
FLUORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
POLYMERS
RESINS
SOLS
SPECTROSCOPY
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
SULFURIC ACID