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Comparison of the annular denuder system and the transition flow reactor for measurements of selected dry deposition species

Journal Article · · Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association; (USA)
; ; ; ; ; ; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC (USA)
  2. Army Research Office, Research Triangle Park, NC (USA)

An intensive field study was conducted in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina in the fall of 1986. Ambient concentrations of the following constituents were obtained: nitric acid, nitrous acid, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ammonia, hydrogen ion, and particulate nitrate, sulfate, and ammonium. Results collected using the annular denuder system (ADS) and the transition flow reactor (TFR) are presented and compared. Both types of samplers had operational detection limits on daily samples that were generally below 1 {mu}g m{sup {minus}3} suggesting that both samplers can provide sensitive measurements for most of the constituents of interest. Both the ADS and TFR show reasonable within-sampler precision for most of the measured species concentrations, except TFR fine particulate nitrate measurements where results were frequently negative. Comparison of ADS and TFR daily results showed good agreement for total particulate sulfate, the sum of total particulate and gaseous nitrate, and ammonia. As a result of different inlet particle collection efficiencies, the ADS fine particulate sulfate exceeded the TFR. In the absence of a filter to collect volatilized particulate ammonium in the ADS, the sum of total particulate and gaseous ammonium in the TFR exceeded that in the ADS. Of potentially more importance, ADS measurements of SO{sub 2} and H{sup +} exceeded those of the TFR, while TFR measurements of HNO{sub 3} exceeded those of the ADS.

OSTI ID:
6877586
Journal Information:
Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association; (USA) Vol. 39:9; ISSN JAWAE
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English