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A Non-destructive FTIR Method for the Determination of Ammonium and Sulfate in Urban PM2.5 Samples

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Abstract

Traditionally, the atmospheric particle composition is analyzed using destructive methods. In general, the destructive methods lead to the destruction of the samples, higher cost of the analysis and larger analysis time. In view of aforesaid, in current work, we present a method for the non-destructive analysis of atmospheric particles using open path-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (OP-FTIR). The developed method has been used for the measurement of ammonium and sulfate in atmospheric particles without destroying the samples. Here, we targeted the said species because of their relative importance for air pollution episode formation. Particulate sulfate plays a major role in formation of haze. However; particulate acidity is an important factor in this process, which is governed by particulate ammonium concentration. Therefore, both SO42− and NH4+ are important as far as atmospheric chemistry of haze formation is concerned. In the present study, the qualitative and quantitative estimation of ammonium and sulfate ions in PM2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 µm) was carried out using OP-FTIR with the developed method. The seasonal average concentration of NH4+ and SO42− were measured to be 12.00 ± 5.80, 31.71 ± 12.71 µg/m3 respectively for winters, 3.00 ± 0.85 and 8.00 ± 2.28 µg/m3 respectively for summers and 2.60 ± 1.90 and 7.00 ± 5.21 µg/m3 respectively for monsoon season. The observed results are found to be in good agreement with that of other studies using destructive methods.

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Fig. 1

Figure adopted from Sarangi et al. [22]

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Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful to the Director, CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi, India for his consistent support for the ongoing work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi, 110012, India

    V. Goel, S. K. Mishra, C. Sharma, B. Sarangi, S. G. Aggarwal, R. Agnihotri & R. K. Kotnala

  2. Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Kamla Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, 201002, India

    V. Goel, S. K. Mishra, C. Sharma, B. Sarangi, S. G. Aggarwal & R. K. Kotnala

  3. Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226007, India

    R. Agnihotri

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  1. V. Goel
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Correspondence to S. K. Mishra.

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Goel, V., Mishra, S.K., Sharma, C. et al. A Non-destructive FTIR Method for the Determination of Ammonium and Sulfate in Urban PM2.5 Samples. MAPAN 33, 209–215 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12647-018-0253-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12647-018-0253-9

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