Critical evaluation of adsorption-based sampling of vaporized metal species in flue gases

Diffusion-controlled sampling techniques, i.e. diffusion screens and diffusion tubes (= denuders), can be used in the collection of several vaporized heavy metal species in clean gases (pure N₂ atmosphere) at elevated temperatures. Collection efficiencies obtained for Hg, HgCl₂, Cd, CdCl₂ and ZnCl₂ were over 90% using adsorption on Au-coated diffusion screens and Ag-coated denuders. However, the collection efficiencies for Zn and PbCl₂ were significantly lower. In field measurements performed at a hazardous waste incineration plant and in a power plant equipped with a circulating fluidized-bed boiler, collection efficiencies seemed to vary noticeably depending on the sampling conditions and metal species to be sampled. Best collection efficiencies were obtained for mercury with both Ag coated denuders and Au coated screens whereas cadmium showed significantly poorer results in field measurements than in the laboratory. Sampling of zinc and lead species seemed to be problematic in all cases. Of the two sampling techniques, the denuder technique is more recommendable than the screen technique for sampling in relatively clean gases. However, neither of these techniques should be used in flue gases without further understanding of the collection mechanisms. Received: 6 November 1996 / Revised: 3 July 1996 / Accepted: 14 July 1996     

Sampling and determination of gas phase divalent mercury in the air using a KCl coated denuder

KCl coated denuders were employed for the measurement of divalent mercury (Hg²⁺) species in the air. Laboratory tests show that gaseous Hg²⁺ can be collected by the denuder with an average efficiency of 98% and elemental Hg will pass through it freely. Hg²⁺ trapped in the denuder can be quantitatively extracted by 1 mol/L HCl and analyzed by the method of SnCl₂ reduction-CVAFS determination. Hg²⁺ concentrations of 0.04–0.15 ng m^–3 corresponding to about 2–9% of the total gaseous mercury in the ambient air were determined at several sampling locations.     

Sampling and determination of gas phase divalent mercury in the air using a KCl coated denuder

KCl coated denuders were employed for the measurement of divalent mercury (Hg²⁺) species in the air. Laboratory tests show that gaseous Hg²⁺ can be collected by the denuder with an average efficiency of 98% and elemental Hg will pass through it freely. Hg²⁺ trapped in the denuder can be quantitatively extracted by 1 mol/L HCl and analyzed by the method of SnCl₂ reduction-CVAFS determination. Hg²⁺ concentrations of 0.04–0.15 ng m^–3 corresponding to about 2–9% of the total gaseous mercury in the ambient air were determined at several sampling locations. Received: 24 September 1996 / Revised: 14 January 1997 / Accepted: 18 January 1997     

Annular diffusion denuder for simultaneous removal of gaseous organic compounds and air oxidants during sampling of carbonaceous aerosols

A specially designed annular diffusion denuder for simultaneous removal of organic gaseous compounds and atmospheric oxidants in carbonaceous aerosol sampling is presented. Various kinds of denuder coatings were compared with respect to the collection efficiency of both organic gaseous compounds and NO₂ and ozone. The optimum sorbent is a mixture of activated charcoal and sulfite on molecular sieve. To ensure high collection efficiency over long-term field operation, two annular diffusion denuders are combined in series. The first half of the first denuder is filled with Na₂SO₃ on molecular sieve (23 cm long layer) while the second half of the first denuder and the whole second denuder are filled with activated charcoal (the total length of the charcoal section is 67 cm).     

涂布2,4-二硝基苯肼的环形溶蚀器/滤膜系统和高效液相色谱法检测大气中二羰基化合物

建立了环形溶蚀器/滤膜系统(Annular denuder/filter pack system)和2,4-二硝基苯肼(DNPH)-高效液相色谱法(HPLC)采集和检测大气中气相和颗粒相二羰基化合物的方法。DNPH作为吸附剂分别涂布在环形溶蚀器的内壁和3层滤膜上,当大气样品经过环形溶蚀器时,含有气相二羰基化合物的气体吸附到环形溶蚀管内壁上与DN-PH发生反应,而颗粒相部分穿过环形溶蚀管,采集到滤膜上。样品经乙腈洗脱、浓缩后,采用HPLC进行分析。根据不同的采样流速、采样时间和DNPH的涂布量采集到的二羰基化合物的浓度,确定的最佳采样条件为:采样流速4 L/min,采样时间4~5 h,DNPH浓度0.47 g/L。使用Tedlar bag验证环形溶蚀器乙二醛和甲基乙二醛的采集效率(分别为82%和85%)。利用此方法对实际大气中的二羰基化合物进行了检测。     

Improved determination of gaseous divalent mercury in ambient air using KCl coated denuders

An improved method for the determination of gaseous divalent mercury (GDM) in ambient air using KCl coated denuders has been developed and tested. GDM collected in the KCl coated denuders can be quantitatively desorbed at 450?°C in 10 min. After being complete thermally reduced to Hg⁰ at 900?°C, all mercury released from the denuder is pre-concentrated on the analytical Au trap, and detected by cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CVAFS). The absolute detection limit of the method is less than 3 pg. Preliminary data of GDM concentration in ambient air from different sampling stations show that GDM concentrations in the urban air of Göteborg are much higher than in rural air (Rörvik and Sasetta), which indicates the anthropogenic origin of GDM.     

Gas collection efficiency of annular denuders: A spreadsheet-based calculator

Denuders are widely used for atmospheric analysis. Annular denuders are especially well-suited for preconcentration of trace gases compared to simpler single tube designs. While traditionally coated annular denuders have both bounding surfaces that behave as sinks, annular denuders/membrane-based scrubbers with the same basic geometric design and with only one of the annular surfaces functioning as sink (e.g., a membrane tube whose outer surface behaves as a sink disposed within an inert jacket tube) have become common. However, the gas collection efficiency of such devices cannot be expressed as a simple equation with fixed constants and there is no presently available tool to a priori determine the denuder performance or to design denuders with specific removal efficiencies at specific sampling rates. This paper presents a simple to use “spreadsheet calculator” for concentric annular denuders of any dimension based on known solutions to analogous heat transfer problems. The results from the present spreadsheet calculator are compared with results from a commercial computational fluid dynamics package (Fluent™; this takes significant expertise and development effort to run)—the two approaches produce essentially the same results. The present spreadsheet calculator can be used easily and simply without training and will be a useful tool for denuder users and designers.     

Prediction of gas collection efficiency and particle collection artifact for atmospheric semivolatile organic compounds in multicapillary denuders

A modeling approach is presented to predict the sorptive sampling collection efficiency of gaseous semivolatile organic compounds (SOCs) and the artifact caused by collection of particle-associated SOCs in multicapillary diffusion denuders containing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stationary phase. Approaches are presented to estimate the equilibrium PDMS–gas partition coefficient (K_pdms) from a solvation parameter model for any compound, and, for nonpolar compounds, from the octanol–air partition coefficient (K_oa) if measured K_pdms values are not available. These estimated K_pdms values are compared with K_pdms measured by gas chromatography. Breakthrough fraction was measured for SOCs collected from ambient air using high-flow (300 L min⁻¹) and low-flow (13 L min⁻¹) denuders under a range of sampling conditions (−10 to 25 °C; 11–100% relative humidity). Measured breakthrough fraction agreed with predictions based on frontal chromatography theory using K_pdms and equations of Golay, Lövkvist and Jönsson within measurement precision. Analytes included hexachlorobenzene, 144 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers 47 and 99. Atmospheric particle transmission efficiency was measured for the high-flow denuder (0.037–6.3 μm diameter), and low-flow denuder (0.015–3.1 μm diameter). Particle transmission predicted using equations of Gormley and Kennedy, Pich, and a modified filter model, agreed within measurement precision (high-flow denuder) or were slightly greater than (low-flow denuder) measured particle transmission. As an example application of the model, breakthrough volume and particle collection artifact for the two denuder designs were predicted as a function of K_oa for nonpolar SOCs. The modeling approach is a necessary tool for the design and use of denuders for sorptive sampling with PDMS stationary phase.     

Simultaneous determination of inorganic and organic acids in air by use of annular denuders and ion chromatography

Summary The performance of KOH-coated annular denuders for simultaneous collection of gas-phase atmospheric organic and inorganic acids has been evaluated by ion chromatography (IC) with an NaOH−H₂O gradient. Sampling efficiency was tested for formic and acetic acids under dry and humid air conditions. With this method several mono- and dicarboxylic acids, nitric acid, and hydrogen chloride can be detected. Laboratory and field measurements confirmed the reliability of the denuder method and its superior versatility compared with other techniques (scrubbing by means of a nebulizer, cryogenic trapping) which cannot be used to determine termine gaseous inorganic acids.     

Improved determination of gaseous divalent mercury in ambient air using KCl coated denuders

An improved method for the determination of gaseous divalent mercury (GDM) in ambient air using KCl coated denuders has been developed and tested. GDM collected in the KCl coated denuders can be quantitatively desorbed at 450 degrees C in 10 min. After being complete thermally reduced to Hg0 at 900 degrees C, all mercury released from the denuder is pre-concentrated on the analytical Au trap, and detected by cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CVAFS). The absolute detection limit of the method is less than 3 pg. Preliminary data of GDM concentration in ambient air from different sampling stations show that GDM concentrations in the urban air of G?teborg are much higher than in rural air (R?rvik and Sasetta), which indicates the anthropogenic origin of GDM.     

Simultaneous measurements of formaldehyde and ozone in air by annular denuder-HPLC techniques

Summary A denuder sampling method combined with HPLC analysis for the simultaneous determination of formaldehyde and ozone in ambient air is described. It is based on the reactions of CH₂O and O₃ with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) and 4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol (eugenol)_respectively, both acting as coatings of two annular denuders connected in series. Formaldehyde released from the ozonolysis of eugenol is quantitatively collected on a third downstream DNPH-coated denuder. The two DNPH denuders are then extracted and analyzed as hydrazone derivative by HPLC with UV absorbance detection.The stoichiometric factor of the eugenol-ozone reaction was found to be 2.0±0.1 moles of O₃ per mole of CH₂O. The limits of detection are 0.8gm^–3 CH₂O and 3gm^–3 O₃ for 100l air sampled, corresponding to 1-h sampling at 1.7l min^–1.     

Determination of nitric acid in ambient air using diffusion denuder tubes

A method has been developed for the determination of gaseous nitric acid in air based on its separation from particulate nitrate aerosol using diffusion denuder tubes. An integrated value of nitric acid concentration in air is obtained. The experimentally derived absorption efficiencies of the diffusion denuder tubes ranged from 87.6 to 96.9%. The standard deviation of the method was calculated as 0.10 mug/m(3) for nitric acid concentrations in the range 0.54-1.72 mug/m(3). A correction procedure, using two diffusion denuders in series, should be applied if measurements are made in the presence of high levels of nitrogen oxides.     

Condenser-type diffusion denuders for the collection of sulfur dioxide in a cleanroom

High-efficiency condenser-type diffusion denuders of cylindrical and planar geometries are described. The film condensation of water vapor onto a cooled denuder surface can be used as a method for collecting water-soluble gases. By using SO(2) as the test gas, the planar design offers quantitative collection efficiency at air sampling rates up to 5 L min(-1). Coupled to ion chromatography, the limit of detection (LOD) for SO(2) is 0.014 ppbv with a 30-min successive analysis sequence. The method has been successfully applied to the analysis of temperature- and humidity-controlled cleanroom air.     

Studies on the Use of Commercial Capillary Gas Chromatographic Columns as Diffusion Denuders

The possibility of using a piece of gas chromatographic capillary column as a tubular denuder for isolation and enrichment of organic pollutants present in air was studied. The partition coefficients (K_fs) of typical organic pollutants (benzene, chlorobenzene, toluene) between the gaseous phase and the denuder sorption layer were determined and effects of analyte concentration in the gaseous phase and gas flow rate on partitioning were studied. The partition coefficients were found to be constant in the studied range of concentration and gaseous mixture flow rate. A piece of a capillary column coated with polydimethylosiloxane can be used as a tubular denuder.     

Determination of C1-C3 carboxylic acids in air with diffusion controlled sampling at elevated flow rates

Summary A sampling system for the determination of C₁-C₃ carboxylic acids in air is described. Acids are collected on coated diffusion screens at elevated flow rates (5.6 L/min), and afterwards quantified by ion-chromatography. Collection efficiency, behaviour of the absorbed comounds and the penetration of particles through coated screens are reported. Results of field measurements and their comparison with those obtained with conventional tubular denuder tubes are shown.Dedicated to Professor Dr. Wilhelm Fresenius on the occasion of his 80th birthday     

Performance of a 2,4-DNPH coated annular denuder/HPLC system for formaldehyde monitoring in air

Summary The performance of annular denuders coated with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine for collection of atmospheric HCHO has been evaluated by HPLC/UV analysis of samples coming from laboratory tests and field experiments. A number of parameters, such as collection efficiency at varying air humidity, detection limit, operative capacity and temporal self-consistency have been investigated to optimize the denuder behaviour under different weather conditions and to obtain short-term concentration profiles of HCHO. Deviations between measurements made simultaneously by the DNPH denuder method and differential optical absorption spectrometry (DOAS) have been found to average approximately 30% in the 0–5 ppb HCHO concentration range.     

High Efficiency Annular Denuder for Formaldehyde Monitoring

Abstract

A practical and correct methodology for evaluating CH₂O in air without sampling artifact formation is presented. Formaldehyde is collected on an annular denuder coated with bisulfite-triethanolamine. The sorbent layer is extracted with water and the solution analyzed by the chromotropic acid (CTA) procedure. Sorption efficiency and loading capacity have been investigated along with storage stability.

Results of laboratory validation studies have indicated that a small annular denuder was able to sample about 300 μg CH₂O without an appreciable decrease in the initial collection efficiency (99% at 2.5 1 min^?1).

Tests on storage stability before and after exposure have also demonstrated that both oxidation of bisulfite and release of CH₂O did not occur for time periods as long as 1 month.     

Evaluation and applications of a gaseous mercuric chloride source

In this study, a diffusion-type device for generating gaseous mercuric chloride (HgCl₂) was systematically evaluated and applied to validate the annular denuder method for sampling gaseous HgCl₂ species in a synthetic gas stream. The results show that it takes at least 48 h for the system to reach a steady-state condition after the diffusion cell reaches the temperature set-point and the carrier gas is activated. The primary Hg species from the source was proven to be HgCl₂. In the temperature range from –5.00 to 11.80 °C, the Hg emission rates from the source vary from 1.8 to 14.2 pg min^–1. It is shown that, under the experimental conditions examined, KCl-coated annular quartz denuders designed for ambient reactive gaseous mercury (RGM) collection could quantitatively collect HgCl₂. It is also demonstrated that the impactors used to remove coarse airborne particulate matter could lead to a loss of up to one third of the HgCl₂ in the gas stream.     

The determination of hydrogen chloride in ambient air with diffusion/denuder tubes

A manual method for the determination of hydrogen chloride in air, based on diffusion/denuder tube separation from particulate chloride aerosol is described. When air is drawn through a tube coated with a selective absorbent (sodium fluoride), separation is achieved because gaseous hydrogen chloride diffuses much more rapidly to the tube walls than particulate chloride aerosol, which passes through virtually unabsorbed. After the sampling period (the length of which depends on the concentration of gaseous hydrogen chloride expected), the sorbed hydrogen chloride is washed from the tube and measured with a highly sensitive chloride ion-selective electrode with a mercury (I) chloride membrane. The method is examined theoretically and experimentally. The experimentally derived absorption efficiencies of the diffusion/denuder tubes were > 90% and the standard deviation of the method was 0.023 μg m^?3 for hydrogen chloride concentrations of 0.16–0.55 μg m^?3. Interference from particulate chloride salts was negligible; this was confirmed by tests with artificially generated aerosol particles from an aerosol generator. The diffusion/denuder tubes have high capacity; level as high as 330 μg m^?3 hydrogen chloride can be sampled for 60 min without affecting performance. A detection limit of (50/t) μg m^?3 can be achieved, where t is the sampling rime (min); e.g., 1μg m^?3 hydrogen chloride can be detected with a sampling period of 50 min.     

Development of a KI Annular Denuder for NO2 Collection

Abstract

The use of a KI-coated annular denuder for eliminating NO₂ interference during sampling of airborne particulate matter on filter media is proposed. The performances of this novel diffusion sampler were evaluated in a series of practical tests concerning optimization of the sorption efficiency of NO₂. Results pointed out that a properly sized annular denuder under 1 m long could be able to remove HO₂ before collecting aerosols at laminar airflows as high as 15 1 min^?1.