A high-efficiency annular diffusion scrubber for the collection of water-soluble trace atmospheric gases

The design and construction details of an annular diffusion scrubber to be used as a quantitative gas sampler are described. A large-diameter inner tube (12 mm o.d.) wrapped with liquid channel interior of thin membrane (70 micro m thickness) provided high collection efficiency. With SO2 as the test gas, the performance data for a high-efficiency annular diffusion scrubber, coupled to an ion chromatograph, are presented. Quantitative collection and excellent reproducibility are observed at air sampling rates up to 2 L/min. The estimated detection limit is 4 pptv for a 20-L air sampling volume.     

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.     

Wet effluent parallel plate diffusion denuder coupled capillary ion chromatograph for the determination of atmospheric trace gases

We describe an inexpensive, compact parallel plate diffusion denuder coupled capillary IC system for the determination of soluble ionogenic atmospheric trace gases. The active sampling area (0.6x10 cm) of the denuder is formed in a novel manner by thermally bonding silica gel particles to the surface of Plexiglas plates. The effluent liquid from the parallel plate diffusion denuder is collected and preconcentrated on a capillary preconcentrator column before analysis using a capillary ion chromatograph. Using SO(2) as the test gas, collection efficiency is essentially quantitative at air sampling rates up to 500 ml min(-1). The system provides a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.6 parts per trillion for SO(2) for a 10 min sampling period.     

Automated measurement system for H2O2 in the atmosphere by diffusion scrubber sampling and HPLC analysis of Ti(IV)-PAR-H2O2 complex

An automated selective measurement system for monitoring hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the atmosphere was developed (using a diffusion scrubber coupled to a high performance liquid chromatography) due to the importance of H2O2 in understanding tropospheric chemistry and its harmful effects on vegetation. H2O2 in the atmosphere was effectively collected by a diffusion scrubber, which consisted of a hydrophobic porous polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) tube positioned concentrically within a Pyrex glass tube. Titanium(IV)-4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol (Ti(IV)-PAR) solution acidified at pH 2.2 was used as the scrubbing solution for the diffusion scrubber. After the collection of the air sample by the diffusion scrubber, the pH value of the Ti(IV)-PAR scrubbing solution was adjusted to pH 11.9 to form a stable complex of Ti(IV)-PAR-H2O2. An aliquot of the sample solution was injected into a high performance liquid chromatograph equipped with a semi-micro-reversed-phase column and a spectrophotometric detector set at 508 nm for separating and determining the Ti(IV)-PAR-H2O2 complex. The automated measurement could be performed at 60 min intervals. The collection efficiency of H2O2 was higher than 98% at an air flow rate of 1.0 l min-1. The detection limit (3 sigma of the blank value) of H2O2 was 9 parts per trillion by volume (pptv) for an air sampling volume of 55.1. The interference from coexisting O3 or SO2 in the atmosphere was negligible during the collection of H2O2 by the diffusion scrubber. The developed automated measurement system was suitable for monitoring H2O2 in the atmosphere.     

Portable system for near-real time measurement of gaseous formaldehyde by means of parallel scrubber stopped-flow absorptiometry

Formaldehyde, HCHO, is one of the important causal agents of sick-building syndrome. It is also an important product of ambient air photochemistry. We report here a portable instrument capable of a 0.08 ppbv limit of detection (LOD) and a time resolution of 5 min that is useful for both indoor and ambient air applications. The detection is based on efficient gas collection and chromogenic reaction with 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolone hydrazone (MBTH) through a pair of alternately sampling small-bore porous-membrane tube diffusion scrubbers (DS). The chemistry is well established, requires no special reagent preparation or elevated reaction temperatures and permits the use of inexpensive light emitting diode (LED)-based detectors without need for long path cells. Stopped flow alternate sampling allows an HCHO collection performance, an order of magnitude better than any previous system with high throughput and high sensitivity. Results for indoor and ambient air analyses are presented.     

Gas analyzer for continuous monitoring of trace level methanethiol by microchannel collection and fluorescence detection

The highly odorous compound methanethiol, CH₃SH, is commonly produced in biodegradation of biomass and industrial processes, and is classed as 2000 times more odorous than NH₃. However, there is no simple analytical method for detecting low parts-per-billion in volume ratio (ppbv) levels of CH₃SH. In this study, a micro gas analysis system (μGAS) was developed for continuous or near real time measurement of CH₃SH at ppbv levels. In addition to a commercial fluorescence detector, a miniature high sensitivity fluorescence detector was developed using a novel micro-photomultiplier tube device. CH₃SH was collected by absorption into an alkaline solution in a honeycomb-patterned microchannel scrubber and then mixed with the fluorescent reagent, 4-(N,N-dimethylaminosulfonyl)-7-fluoro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (DBD-F). Gaseous CH₃SH was measured without serious interference from other sulfur compounds or amines. The limits of detection were 0.2 ppbv with the commercial detector and 0.3 ppbv with the miniature detector. CH₃SH produced from a pulping process was monitored with the μGAS system and the data agreed well with those obtained by collection with a silica gel tube followed by thermal desorption–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The portable system with the miniature fluorescence detector was used to monitor CH₃SH levels in near-real time in a stockyard and it was shown that the major odor component, CH₃SH, presented and its concentration varied dynamically with time.     

On-line collection/concentration and detection of sulfur dioxide in air by flow-injection spectrophotometry coupled with a chromatomembrane cell.

A simple and rapid procedure for SO2 determination in air was developed by using a flow injection analysis (FIA) system coupled with a 3-hole chromatomembrane cell (CMC). The CMC was applied for the on-line collection/concentration of SO2 from air into a solution of 2 g l(-1) triethanolamine (TEA) solution as an absorbing solution: SO2 was converted to SO3(2-) in the alkaline absorbing solution. The solution containing absorbed SO2 was introduced into the carrier stream of the FIA system. The amount of SO3(2-) in the absorbing solution was measured by spectrophotometry with a mixed reagent of pararosaniline and formaldehyde, and was converted to the concentration of SO2 in the air sample. A calibration graph prepared by using standard sodium sulfite aqueous solutions was adopted for the determination of SO3(2-) in the absorbing solution. The SO2 concentration in indoor air examined was found to be 22.7 +/- 0.2 ppbv using 20 ml of air sample with the air flow rate of 5 ml min(-1), where the relative standard deviation was 1.7%. The detection limit for aqueous solutions and air samples were 6.9 x 10(-8) M and 0.48 ppbv, respectively. The measuring time for one sample was about 10 min when a 20 ml air sample was used. The interferences from common anionic species, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, were also examined.     

Oxygen consumption of cell suspension in a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microchannel estimated by scanning electrochemical microscopy

A quantitative analysis of the oxygen concentration profile near a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic device was performed using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). A microchannel filled with sodium sulfite (Na(2)SO(3)) aqueous solution was imaged by SECM, showing that the oxygen diffusion layer of the PDMS microchannel was observed to be hemicylindrical. Based on a theoretical analysis of the hemicylindrical diffusion layer of the microchannel, the total oxygen mass transfer rates of oxygen to the PDMS microchannel filled with the Na(2)SO(3) solution was calculated to be (4.01 +/- 0.30) x 10(-12) mol s(-1). This is the maximum value of the oxygen transfer rate for this PDMS microchannel device. The oxygen consumption rate increased almost linearly with the logarithm of the concentration of E. coli cells (10(6) approximately 10(8) cells). The respiratory activity for a single E. coli cell was estimated to be approximately 4.31 x 10(-20) mol s(-1) cell(-1).     

Effective diffusion coefficients for methanol in sulfuric acid solutions measured by Raman spectroscopy

The diffusion of methanol into 0-96.5 wt % sulfuric acid solutions was followed using Raman spectroscopy. Because methanol reacts to form protonated methanol (CH 3OH 2 (+)) and methyl hydrogen sulfate in H 2SO 4 solutions, the reported diffusion coefficients, D, are effective diffusion coefficients that include all of the methyl species diffusing into H 2SO 4. The method was first verified by measuring D for methanol into water. The value obtained here, D = (1.4 +/- 0.6) x 10 (-5) cm (2)/s, agrees well with values found in the literature. The values of D in 39.2-96.5 wt % H 2SO 4 range from (0.11-0.3) x 10 (-5) cm (2)/s, with the maximum value of D occurring for 61.6 wt % H 2SO 4. The effective diffusion coefficients do not vary systematically with the viscosity of the solutions, suggesting that the speciation of both methanol and sulfuric acid may be important in determining these transport coefficients.     

Ion chromatographic measurement of sulfide, methanethiolate, sulfite and sulfate in aqueous and air samples

Simultaneous measurement of sulfur species was investigated using ion chromatography. Sulfide, methanethiolate, sulfite and sulfate are representative of sulfur species. The aqueous sulfur species were simultaneously measured using a two-detector system: suppressor-type conductivity detector for sulfite and sulfate, and fluorometric or electrochemical detector for the reduced sulfur compounds. The major sulfur-containing gases, hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan and sulfur dioxide are collected into aqueous solution as the species listed above. Collection of sulfur gases using a membrane-based cylindrical diffusion scrubber was investigated. Atmospheric hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide are measured by the diffusion scrubber collection and subsequent measurement by ion chromatography without an enrichment column. In addition to the two gases, methyl mercaptan was also determined using a dual scrubber system.     

Trends in atmospheric trace gas measurement instruments with membrane-based gas diffusion scrubbers.

A diffusion scrubber (DS) is an excellent tool for gas analysis, and there are many types of DS devices, varying both in structure and construction. In this paper, recent work on atmospheric trace gas measurements by means of DS devices are reviewed. Theoretical considerations on representative DSs are summarized first. Then, the characteristics of the key material, a gas-diffusion membrane, are discussed, and recent improvements and novel scrubbers for highly effective collection are outlined. A chromatograph is a suitable tool for the multi-gas analysis of collected species. On the other hand, solid-state fluorescence/absorbance detectors have been developed for the continuous measurement of target gases. The methods based on DS collection and subsequent detection have high sensitivities, and the detection limits can be in the low-pptv levels. Accordingly, they are capable of measuring background levels, and detecting very low levels of contaminants in a cleanroom. Miniaturized advanced DS units, perhaps the next generation of DS devices, are introduced at the end of this review. DS systems have contributed significantly to our knowledge of the atmospheric dynamics and atmospheric chemistry.     

Kinetics of sulfur oxide, sulfur fluoride, and sulfur oxyfluoride anions with atomic species at 298 and 500 K

The rate constants and product-ion branching ratios for the reactions of sulfur dioxide (SO2-), sulfur fluoride (SFn-), and sulfur oxyfluoride anions (SOxFy-) with H, H2, N, N2, NO, and O have been measured in a selected-ion flow tube (SIFT). H atoms were generated through a microwave discharge on a H2/He mixture, whereas O atoms were created via N atoms titrated with NO, where the N had been created by a microwave discharge on N2. None of the ions reacted with H2, N2 or NO; thus, the rate constants are <1 x 10(-12) cm3 s-1. SOxFy- ions react with H by only fluorine-atom abstraction to form HF at 298 and 500 K. Successive F-atom removal does not occur at either temperature, and the rate constants show no temperature dependence over this limited range. SO2- and F- undergo associative detachment with H to form a neutral molecule and an electron. Theoretical calculations of the structures and energetics of HSO2- isomers were performed and showed that structural differences between the ionic and neutral HSO2 species can account for at least part of the reactivity limitations in the SO2- + H reaction. All of the SOxFy- ions react with O; however, only SO2- reacts with both N and O. SOxFy- reactions with N (SO2- excluded) have a rate constant limit of <1 x 10(-11) cm3 s-1. The rate constants for the SOxFy- reactions with H and O are < or =25% of the collision rate constant, as seen previously in the reactions of these ions with O3, consistent with a kinetic bottleneck limiting the reactivity. The only exceptions are the reactions of SO2- with N and O, which are much more efficient. Three pathways were observed with O atoms: F-atom exchange in the reactant ion, F- exchange in the reactant ion, and charge transfer to the O atom. No associative detachment was observed in the N- and O-atom reactions.     

Development of an automated measurement system using a diffusion scrubber and high-performance liquid chromatography for the monitoring of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in automotive exhaust gas.

An automated measurement system for monitoring formaldehyde (HCHO) and acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) in automotive exhaust gas by using a diffusion scrubber in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed. HCHO and CH3CHO are effectively collected by the diffusion scrubber, which consists of a hydrophobic porous PTFE tube disposed concentrically within a Pyrex-glass tube and a scrubbing solution. 2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine is used as the scrubbing solution for trapping HCHO and CH3CHO, which are derivatized to formaldehyde 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone (DNPH-HCHO) and acetaldehyde 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone (DNPH-CH3CHO), respectively, with phosphoric acid as an acid catalyst. After the collection of the gas sample, the sample solution in the diffusion scrubber is injected into the HPLC system and DNPH-HCHO and DNPH-CH3CHO are separated and determined. All measurement operations are sequenced by a programmable controller and an automated continuous measurement can be performed at 10 min intervals. The collection efficiencies of HCHO and CH3CHO were higher than 97% at a gas flow rate of 0.21 min-1. The detection limit (3 sigma of the blank value) was 0.001 ppm v/v for HCHO and CH3CHO for a 1.61 gas sample volume. No interference of co-existing nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the collection of HCHO and CH3CHO was observed. The average concentration of HCHO in the exhaust gas from methanol-fueled vehicles was 77.3 ppm v/v (n = 5) in the cold-phase mode when engines were first started. In the hot-phase mode, the average concentration of HCHO was 3.3 ppm v/v (n = 15). The concentrations of HCHO measured by this automated measurement system were in good agreement with those obtained using the impinger-HPLC method.     

The development of an automated continuous measurement system for the monitoring of HCHO and CH3CHO in the atmosphere by using an annular diffusion scrubber coupled to HPLC

An automated continuous measurement system for the monitoring of formaldehyde (HCHO) and acetaldehyde (CH₃CHO) in the urban atmosphere was developed by using an annular diffusion scrubber in conjunction with a high-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC). With this technique, atmospheric HCHO and CH₃CHO were effectively collected by the annular diffusion scrubber which consists of a porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tube disposed concentrically within a Pyrex-glass tube and a scrubbing solution. 2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) was selected as the scrubbing solution for collecting HCHO and CH₃CHO, which are derivatized to 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone-formaldehyde (DNPH-HCHO) and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone-acetaldehyde (DNPH-CH₃CHO), respectively. An aliquot of the sample solution was automatically injected into an HPLC equipped with a semi-micro ODS column and a UV-VIS detector for separating and determining DNPH-HCHO and DNPH-CH₃CHO. All the operations are sequenced by a programmable controller, and automated continuous measurements are performed with a typical temporal resolution of 1 h. The collection efficiencies of HCHO and CH₃CHO were about 97% and 93%, respectively, at an air flow rate of 0.2 L/min. The lower detection limits (3σ of the blank hydrazones) of HCHO and CH₃CHO were 0.05 ppbv and 0.10 ppbv, respectively, in the case of 12-L air sample volume. Analytical response of a standard solution of DNPH-HCHO and DNPH-CH₃CHO by the HPLC during a 10-day continuous measurement was unchanged and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was < 1.0%. Interferences from O₃ and NO₂ were insignificant in this annular diffusion scrubber method. Both for HCHO and CH₃CHO measurements, concentrations from this developed system well agreed with those measured by a DNPH Silica cartridge method.     

Cation mobility and kinetics of ion exchange in zirconium hydrogen monothiophosphate hydrate, Zr(HPO(3)S)(2)x1.5H(2)O

The ion conductivity of zirconium hydrogen monothiophosphate (Zr(HPO(3)S)(2)x1.5H(2)O) has been measured by impedance spectroscopy. The measured value of proton conductivity is 3 x 10(-5) S/cm at 298 K. Conductivity was shown to decrease with increasing temperature due to a dehydration process. Above 450 K, the conductivity is likely governed by proton transport in the anhydrous phase Zr(HPO(3)S)(2). The activation energies of proton conductivity were measured to be 18 +/- 2 kJ/mol for Zr(HPO(3)S)(2)x1.5H(2)O and 60 +/- 3 kJ/mol for the anhydrous compound. The kinetics of ion exchange was studied with the use of potentiometric titration for several ion pairs, H(+)/Na(+), H(+)/Zn(2+), and Na(+)/Zn(2+) in Zr(HPO(3)S)(2)x1.5H(2)O. The diffusion coefficient values for H(+)/Na(+) ion exchange in Zr(HPO(3)S)(2)x1.5H(2)O are lower than those reported in alpha-zirconium phosphate. At the same time, the mobility of zinc ions in Zr(HPO(3)S)(2)x1.5H(2)O is higher than sodium ion mobility. The ion exchange H(+)/Zn(2+) is accompanied by the slow hydrolysis of the initial compound. In all cases, the powdered solids were evaluated by powder X-ray diffraction, and particle sizes were controlled by grinding and sieving the powders.     

镉离子在H2SO4溶液中极谱行为的研究

本文研究了在没有动物胶的0.5M H_2SO_4溶液中镉离子的极谱行为,得到了如下的结果:(1)在0.050～20.0mM CdSO_4 0.5M H_2SO_4的十种溶液中测得的电流-电位曲线都有良好的波形、恒定的极限扩散电流和易于确定的半波电位.这些曲线上都没有极谱极大出现;其极限扩散电流(波高)与镉离子的浓度成正比.在镉离子低浓度(0.050～0.20mM)时,半波电位保持不变,在镉离子高浓度(1.00～20.0mM)时,也仅有很小的变化.故镉离子在0.5MH_2SO_4,溶液中的电流-电位曲线可供定量和定性测定之用.(2)镉离子在低浓度时的极谱波是一种可逆波.(3)前人在H_2SO_4溶液中研究镉离子时之所以没有能得到令人满意的极谱行为的原因是他们在H_2SO4溶液中添加了动物胶的缘故.(4)作者从得到的波形良好的电流-电位曲线上,测定了25±0.2℃时镉离子在0.5M H_2SO_4溶液中的扩散电流常数、半波电位和电极反应中得失的电子数.结果如下: i_d/cm~(2/3)t~(1/6)=3.97μA/mM·mg~(2/3)·s~(-1/2) E_(1/2)=-1.011V(0.5M硫酸亚汞电极)=-0.559V(饱和甘汞电极) n=2 这些数据比Lingane的数据,扩散电流常数2.6μA/mM·mg~(2/3)·s~(-1/2)和半波电位-0.59V(饱和甘汞电极)],要合理些.     

The development of an automated continuous measurement system for the monitoring of HCHO and CH3CHO in the atmosphere by using an annular diffusion scrubber coupled to HPLC

An automated continuous measurement system for the monitoring of formaldehyde (HCHO) and acetaldehyde (CH₃CHO) in the urban atmosphere was developed by using an annular diffusion scrubber in conjunction with a high-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC). With this technique, atmospheric HCHO and CH₃CHO were effectively collected by the annular diffusion scrubber which consists of a porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tube disposed concentrically within a Pyrex-glass tube and a scrubbing solution. 2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) was selected as the scrubbing solution for collecting HCHO and CH₃CHO, which are derivatized to 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone-formaldehyde (DNPH-HCHO) and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone-acetaldehyde (DNPH-CH₃CHO), respectively. An aliquot of the sample solution was automatically injected into an HPLC equipped with a semi-micro ODS column and a UV-VIS detector for separating and determining DNPH-HCHO and DNPH-CH₃CHO. All the operations are sequenced by a programmable controller, and automated continuous measurements are performed with a typical temporal resolution of 1 h. The collection efficiencies of HCHO and CH₃CHO were about 97% and 93%, respectively, at an air flow rate of 0.2 L/min. The lower detection limits (3σ of the blank hydrazones) of HCHO and CH₃CHO were 0.05 ppbv and 0.10 ppbv, respectively, in the case of 12-L air sample volume. Analytical response of a standard solution of DNPH-HCHO and DNPH-CH₃CHO by the HPLC during a 10-day continuous measurement was unchanged and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was < 1.0%. Interferences from O₃ and NO₂ were insignificant in this annular diffusion scrubber method. Both for HCHO and CH₃CHO measurements, concentrations from this developed system well agreed with those measured by a DNPH Silica cartridge method. Received: 15 July 1998 / Revised: 5 October 1998 / Accepted: 7 October 1998     

Epitaxial thin films of ATiO(3-x)H(x) (A = Ba, Sr, Ca) with metallic conductivity

Epitaxial thin films of titanium perovskite oxyhydride ATiO(3-x)H(x) (A = Ba, Sr, Ca) were prepared by CaH(2) reduction of epitaxial ATiO(3) thin films deposited on a (LaAlO(3))(0.3)(SrAl(0.5)Ta(0.5)O(3))(0.7) substrate. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy detected a substantial amount and uniform distribution of hydride within the film. SrTiO(3)/LSAT thin film hydridized at 530 °C for 1 day had hydride concentration of 4.0 × 10(21) atoms/cm(3) (i.e., SrTiO(2.75)H(0.25)). The electric resistivity of all the ATiO(3-x)H(x) films exhibited metallic (positive) temperature dependence, as opposed to negative as in BaTiO(3-x)H(x) powder, revealing that ATiO(3-x)H(x) are intrinsically metallic, with high conductivity of 10(2)-10(4) S/cm. Treatment with D(2) gas results in hydride/deuteride exchange of the films; these films should be valuable in further studies on hydride diffusion kinetics. Combined with the materials' inherent high electronic conductivity, new mixed electron/hydride ion conductors may also be possible.     

A combined CFD modeling with population balance equation to predict pressure drop in venturi scrubbers

A venturi scrubber is one of the most important devices for air pollution control. Although there are different models for predicting the pressure drop in venturi scrubbers, most of them have some defects and cannot predict the pressure drop correctly. In this study, for the first time, an Eulerian–Eulerian computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is combined with a population balance equation to predict the pressure drop in venturi scrubbers. This simulation takes into account a multiple size group model for droplet dispersion and droplet size distribution, which is based on a population balance equation. Flow field has been calculated by solving the time averaged continuity and Navier–Stokes equations along with the standard k–ε turbulence model. The equations included drag, turbulent dispersion, and buoyancy forces. The calculated pressure drop with and without considering the population balance equation was compared with the experimental data to evaluate the accuracy of the CFD modeling. The size distribution of droplets in the venturi scrubber was studied at different points for different liquid to gas ratios and throat gas velocities. The results show that the maximum break-up of droplets happens at the liquid injection point. Finally, the effects of nozzle diameter and nozzle arrangement on pressure drop in venturi scrubbers were investigated.