Grab sampling for the determination of sulfur dioxide and dimethyl sulfide in air by isotope dilution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Abstract

Developments allowing the direct determination of sulfur dioxide and dimethyl sulfide in grab samples by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with isotopically labeled standards (GC/MS/ILS) are reported. Isotopomers of DMS and SO2 are used as internal standards. Spiked air samples are dried to a dew point of <−60 °C and trapped cryogenically in loops of Teflon tubing. Sealed samples are transported to the laboratory under liquid nitrogen and later subjected to GC/MS analysis. Holding times of up to one month do not result in significant sample loss. For samples collected in a clean marine environment, concentrations of SO2 and DMS greater than 5 and 8 pptv, respectively, are significantly different from blanks at the 95% confidence level. Average measurement precision derived from a propagation of errors are 9% for SO2 and 42% for DMS at concentrations from 5–15 pptv.