Gas/Particle Partition Measurements of PAH at Hazelrigg, U.K.

Abstract

During September and October, 1998, the new Integrated Organic Gas and Particle Sampler (IOGAPS), was operated at Hazelrigg, UK, the field measurement station of the University of Lancaster. Gas/particle partition ratios of twenty-two 2–5 ring PAH were determined using both the IOGAPS (in which the gas phase is collected before the particle phase) and a low flow sampler which utilized the traditional filter-sorbent geometry. For compounds of intermediate volatility, less partitioning to the gas phase was observed when the denuder was used. The denuder (8- channel, 60 cm, 16.7 L min−1 air sampling rate) trapped small amounts of several non-volatile PAH. This result is consistent with particle diffusion losses of 5 to 10% for particles less than 0.05 μm under the flow conditions in the denuder. The 60-cm denuder was probably longer than necessary for the flow rate used. During the sampling, both glass fiber and Teflon-coated glass fiber filters were used. Without a denuder in front of a glass fiber filter, the fine particulate mass (PM 2.5) measurements showed a major positive bias that has been attributed to adsorption of gases by the filter. Teflon-coated glass fiber filters were not subject to this artifact problem, and equal masses were collected on filters from the denuded and non-denuded air flows.