Review of Analytical Methods for Atmospheric Oxidants Measurements

Abstract

Instrumental and manual methods currently available for the measurement of atmospheric oxidants are surveyed. Techniques used in the United States are emphasized and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Commercial systems are evaluated in terms of general operating principles rather than of specific instruments. The ability of these techniques to meet the measurement requirements defined by U.S. Federal air quality oxidant criteria are discussed. Alternative chemical techniques that may have some advantages over the neutral, buffered KI procedure are discussed. Also some attractive, alternative instrumental procedures that are ozone-specific are presented. These systems are based on chemiluminescence and ultraviolet absorption photometry. Electrochemical and colorimetric methods for total oxidant measurements are compared. Finally, some data are presented on relationships of ozone and total oxidants.