Modifications to the sunset laboratory carbon aerosol monitor for the simultaneous measurement of PM2.5 nonvolatile and semi-volatile carbonaceous material

J Air Waste Manag Assoc. 2009 Aug;59(8):1007-17. doi: 10.3155/1047-3289.59.8.1007.

Abstract

Semi-volatile organic carbonaceous material (SVOC) in fine particles is not reliably measured with conventional semicontinuous carbon monitors because semi-volatile carbonaceous material is lost from the collection media during sample collection. Two modifications of a Sunset Laboratory carbon aerosol monitor allowing for the determination of semi-volatile fine particulate organic material are described. Collocated conventional and modified instruments were operated simultaneously using a common inlet. Comparisons were made with integrated PC-BOSS data for quartz filter retained nonvolatile organic carbon (NVOC) and elemental carbon (EC), SVOC, and total carbon (TC = SVOC + NVOC + EC) and good agreement was observed between TC concentrations during studies conducted in Rubidoux, CA. Precision of the comparison was sigma = +/-1.5 microg-C/m3 (+/-8%). On the basis of experiments performed with the modified Sunset monitor, a dual-oven Sunset monitor was developed and extensively tested in Lindon, UT; Riverside, CA; and in environmental exposure chambers. The precision for the measurement of TC with the dual-oven instrument was sigma = +/-1.4 microg-C/m3 (+/-13%).

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aerosols / analysis*
  • Air Pollutants / analysis*
  • Carbon / analysis*
  • Environmental Monitoring / instrumentation
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods*
  • Particle Size
  • Particulate Matter / analysis*
  • Utah
  • Volatilization

Substances

  • Aerosols
  • Air Pollutants
  • Particulate Matter
  • Carbon