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U.S. Department of Energy
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Development of a portable device to collect sulfuric acid aerosol. Final report Sep 76-Sep 78

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6607231

A quantitative, interference-free method for collecting sulfuric acid aerosol on a filter was developed and field tested. Since previous research found that severe losses of sulfuric aicd were caused by ammonia, ambient particulate material, and other interferents, a method was needed that converts sulfuric acid to a stable derivative for subsequent analysis. Methods evaluated for direct fixation of sulfuric acid aerosol were not found to be selective. Therefore, a sampling method was investigated that uses a combination of selective volatilization of the sulfuric acid, prefiltration of particulate interferents, and derivatization of the vaporized acid on an alkali-impregnated filter. Research on the volatilization, prefiltration, and derivatization technique, and the development and field evaluation of a prototype sampler based on this technique are described.

Research Organization:
Southern Research Inst., Birmingham, AL (USA)
OSTI ID:
6607231
Report Number(s):
PB-80-205198
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English