Performances and application of a passive sampling method for the simultaneous determination of nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide in ambient air

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment Vol. 79; no. 3; pp. 301 - 315
• Main Authors: PLAISANCE, H, SAGNIER, I, SAISON, J. Y, GALLOO, J. C, GUILLERMO, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrect Springer 01.11.2002; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - analysis; Air pollution; Analysis methods; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Cities; Diffusion; Environmental monitoring; Environmental Monitoring - instrumentation; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental Monitoring - standards; Exact sciences and technology; Industrial areas; Nitrogen dioxide; Nitrogen Dioxide - analysis; Pollution; Pollution monitoring; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sulfur; Sulfur dioxide; Sulfur Dioxide - analysis; Urban areas; Wind; Wind speed; Nord Pas de Calais; France; Europe; Air content; Air quality; Urban area; Sulfur dioxide; Passive detection; Surveillance; Detection limit; Sampler; Simultaneous measurement; Air pollution; Measurement accuracy; Nitrogen dioxide; Diffusion; Sampling
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1020205230396

The performances and applicability of a diffusion tube sampler for the simultaneous measurements of NO2 and SO2 in ambient air were evaluated. SO2 and NO2 are collected by the passive sampler using triethanolamine as trapping agent and are determined as sulphate and nitrite with ion chromatography. The detection limit (2.3 microg m(-3) of NO2 and 4.2 microg m(-3) of SO2 for two weeks sampling) is adequate for the determination of concentrations in urban and industrial areas. Precision of the method as RSD is in mean 5% for NO2 and 12% for SO2 at the concentration levels in urban areas. Calibration of the method was performed in the field conditions by comparison between the responses of sampler and the concentrations measured by the continuous monitors. High degree of linearity (correlation coefficients > 0.8) is found between the passive sampler tube and the continuous monitor data for both NO2 and SO2. To reduce the wind velocity influence on passive sampling of diffusion tubes, a protective shelter was tested in this study. The overall uncertainty of one measure for the optimised method is estimated at 5 microg m(-3) for NO2 and 6 microg m(-3) for SO2. Suitability of this passive sampling method for air pollution monitoring in urban areas was demonstrated by the results shown in this paper on a campaign carried out in the French agglomeration.