Nitrogen oxide interferences in the measurement of atmospheric particulate nitrates

Technical Report · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6315973· OSTI ID:6315973

Rohlack, L. A.; Hawn, W. C.; Williams, K. R.; Parsons, T. P.

This report presents the results of an experimental program to evaluate the validity of reported atmospheric particulate nitrate concentrations using high-volume (Hi-Vol) sampling techniques. Laboratory and field experiments were conducted to determine the extent of interference that gaseous nitrogen oxides introduce in the atmospheric nitrate determinations. The formation of artifact nitrate was studied as a function of time, filter type, filter pretreatment, particulate type and loading, temperature, humidity, and nitric oxide, nitrous oxide, and ozone concentrations. The highest nitrate values were measured on glass-fiber filters at high nitric oxide and high humidity levels and low temperatures. In fact, the artifact nirate formed during the collection of ambient samples at these worst-case conditions may be the major contributor to measured particulate nitrate values. The sorption of gaseous nitrogen oxides was reduced from 50 to 100% on teflon, polycarbonate, and acid-washed, glass-fiber filters compared to untreated glass-fiber filters.

• Research Organization: Radian Corp., Austin, TX (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6315973
• Report Number(s): EPRI-EA-1031(Vol.2)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR FILTERS
AIR POLLUTION
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CHALCOGENIDES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EQUIPMENT
FIBERGLASS
FILTERS
FLUORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HUMIDITY
INTERFERING ELEMENTS
MATERIALS
MONITORING
NITRATES
NITRIC OXIDE
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
NITROUS OXIDE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
POLYCARBONATES
POLYETHYLENES
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TEFLON
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TESTING