Comparison of collection devices for atmospheric peroxides

Abstract

Possible interferences affecting the diffusion scrubber and the scrubbing coil, two of the most widely used collection devices for real-time measurements of atmospheric peroxides, have been studied. Collection efficiencies for the coil were found to be >98% for H 2 O 2 and 49% for peracetic acid; the diffusion scrubber is 21% and 9.5% effective for these gases. Using MnO 2 reactors for discrimination between H 2 O 2 and organic peroxides showed that significant losses or complete destruction of organic peroxides occurred in the reactors. This will result in the underestimation of organic peroxides and a corresponding overestimation of H 2 O 2 concentrations