Semivolatile behaviour and filter sampling artifacts for dicarboxylic acids during summer campaigns at three forested sites in Europe

• Main Authors: Maenhaut, Willy, Wang, Wan, Chi, Xuguang
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Earth and Environmental Sciences; ORGANIC-CARBON; CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION; RURAL BACKGROUND SITE; ELEMENTAL CARBON CONCENTRATIONS; ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOL; VAPOR-PRESSURES; BOREAL FOREST; K-PUSZTA; HUNGARY; IDENTIFICATION; Boreal Environment Research
• Online Access: https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/2073695; http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-2073695; https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/2073695/file/2073702

The sampling artifacts for C(2)-C(5) dicarboxylic acids (DCAs) were studied by collecting high-volume PM(2.5) samples using front and back quartz-fibre filters. The filters were analysed for carbonaceous components, and for inorganic cationic and anionic and organic anionic species. Back/front filter ratios were determined for the C(2)-C(5) DCAs, but also for methanesulphonate (MSA(-)), the various inorganic species, and the carbonaceous components. The sampling artifacts for the inorganic species were small (< 5%) with the exception of those for nitrate. The median back/front filter ratios for MSA(-) and the C(2)-C(5)DCAs increased in the following order: oxalate (1.5%)-succinate (3%)-MSA(-) (4%)-malonate (2%-9%)-glutarate (7%-26%). Most of these ratios are smaller than those that were obtained for organic carbon, total carbon, and especially water-soluble organic carbon. Our back/front ratios for the C(2)-C(5) DCAs are lower to much lower than those found in other studies.