A Passive Sampler with Improved Performance for Collecting Gaseous and Particulate Phase Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Air

Abstract

A passive sampler which can be used to collect both gaseous and particulate phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in air was previously developed and calibrated. The sampler was successfully used in a field study in North China Plain. However, the relatively low uptake rate for particulate phase PAHs prevented it from being applied in nonseverely contaminated environment. The sampler was redesigned to increase the uptake rate for particulate phase PAHs and calibrated in the field for individual PAH compounds of various molecular sizes. The effect of a fine-screen-mesh wrapping on the performance of the sampler was tested. It was found that the sampling efficiencies of the sampler for various PAH compounds were different depending on their molecular weights. For particulate phase PAHs, the uptake rates for high molecular weight compounds, which are favorably associated with fine particles, were generally lower than those for low molecular weight ones. Two calibration equations with molecular weight as an independent variable were developed to predict the ambient air concentrations of gaseous and particulate phase PAHs based on the results of the passive sampling. The uptake rates of the sampler were different for various PAH compounds. On average, the uptake rates of the sampler for gaseous and particulate phase PAHs were 0.38 ( 0.51 m 3 /d and 0.61 ( 1.41 m 3 /d, respectively. The latter was 2 orders of magnitude higher than the old model. The sampler was less efficient than active sampler for collecting fine particles in the air and such bias in sampled size distribution can be moderated by a fine-screen-mesh wrapping. However, the wrapping could also reduce the sampling efficiency.

Atmospheric concentrations and air–soil gas exchange of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in remote, rural village and urban areas of Beijing–Tianjin region, North China

“…The sampler has been tested in field conditions at different meteorological conditions with satisfaction and detailed calibration and uptake rates of this sampler were described previously (Tao et al, 2009). It is important to note that this passive air sampler samples the particle-bound PAHs less efficiently than gas-phase PAHs.…”

“…PUF disks and GFFs were Soxhlet extracted with 100 mL dichloromethane for 12 h (Liu et al, 2007; Tao et al, 2009), and the extracts were concentrated by rotary evaporation to about 1.0 mL, solvent exchanged to n -hexane, and purified on an alumina silica packed column (10 cm, 3% deactivated silica gel, 6 cm, 3% deactivated alumina, and 1 cm anhydrous sodium sulfate). The silica gel, alumina and anhydrous sodium sulfate were baked at 450 °C for 4 h prior to use.…”

Distributions, Sources, and Backward Trajectories of Atmospheric Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons at Lake Small Baiyangdian, Northern China

“…The passive sampler designed by our laboratory [14] was used to collect gaseous and particulate PAHs samples from two sites located at the lakeside near the village and above the lake (Figure 1). A polyurethane foam (PUF) disk (110 mm diameter × 15 mm thick, density 0.024 g · cm −3 ) and a glass fiber filter (GFF, 110 mm diameter) were used as sampling media for gaseous and particulate phase PAHs, respectively.…”

Calculation Method for the Concentration of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Collected by Passive Air Samplers

“…et al, 2007). 이미 중국에서는 입자상 시료도 채취할 수 있는 PAS가 개발되었다 (Tao et al, 2009;Tao et al, 2007 시료를 채취하는 PAS가 일부 개발되었으나 (Tao et al, 2009;Tao et al, 2007), 기존에 제작된 침적장치 들을 이용하거나 PAS 내부에 침적판을 설치하는 수 준이다. 지금까지 널리 사용되고 있는 PUF-PAS, Harner et al, 2004;Pozo et al, 2004).…”