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EVALUATION OF TECHNIQUES FOR MEASURING BIOGENIC AIRBORNE SULFUR COMPOUNDS, CEDAR ISLAND FIELD STUDY, 1977
Citation:
McClenny, W., R. Shaw, R. Baumgardner, R. Braman, AND J. Ammons. EVALUATION OF TECHNIQUES FOR MEASURING BIOGENIC AIRBORNE SULFUR COMPOUNDS, CEDAR ISLAND FIELD STUDY, 1977. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/2-79/004 (NTIS PB290658).
Description:
Sulfur in both gaseous and particulate form has been measured near biogenic sources using new measurement techniques. The preconcentration of gaseous sulfur on gold-coated glass beads followed by desorption into a flame photometric detection for sulfur is shown to have a detection limit of 0.1-0.2 ng of sulfur and to allow for speciation of H2S, CH3SH and (CH3)2S at low parts per trillion levels. Ambient levels of NO2 and O3 were found to alter the molecular form of sulfur on the beads unless scrubbed from the sampled air. A collection technique using tandem filters is extended from earlier efforts on fine and coarse aerosol to include collection of SO2 and H2S on chemically coated filters; these filters are analyzed by X-ray fluorescence for sulfur content. Measurements of gases evolved from biogenic sources reveal H2S and (CH3)2S as primary components with significant diurnal variations. Recommendations for further instrument development are given.