Journal
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
Volume 37, Issue 18, Pages 2557-2565Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/S1352-2310(03)00178-X
Keywords
gas chromatography; helium ionization detector; ambient formaldehyde; urban; rain
Funding
- Natural Environment Research Council [NER/T/S/2002/00498] Funding Source: researchfish
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An apparatus has been developed for the direct determination of ambient, atmospheric formaldehyde using gas chromatography. A loop sample of 1-6 ml is transferred onto the column and the formaldehyde is focused with a cold trap. Following separation, formaldehyde is detected with an argon doped, pulsed discharge helium ionization detector. Absolute values are obtained via calibration with a permeation source. A detection limit of 42 pptv is calculated. The relatively high duty cycle (similar to11 h(-1)) allows measurements to be taken on timescales that are short compared to the atmospheric lifetime of formaldehyde. The reliability of the apparatus has been investigated via a 4-week field campaign at an urban site in Leeds, UK. Diurnal profiles are observed with evidence for both primary emissions from traffic and secondary, photochemical production. A decrease in formaldehyde concentrations was observed during rain events. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
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