scholarly journals Detection and quantification of gas-phase oxidized mercury compounds by GC/MS

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 2195-2205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colleen P. Jones ◽  
Seth N. Lyman ◽  
Daniel A. Jaffe ◽  
Tanner Allen ◽  
Trevor L. O'Neil
Keyword(s):  
Gas Phase ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Gas Chromatograph ◽  
Mercury Compounds ◽  
System A ◽  
Collection Device ◽  
Cast Doubt ◽  
Mercury Halides

Abstract. Most mercury pollution is emitted to the atmosphere, and the location and bioavailability of deposited mercury largely depends on poorly understood atmospheric chemical reactions that convert elemental mercury into oxidized mercury compounds. Current measurement methods do not speciate oxidized mercury, leading to uncertainty about which mercury compounds exist in the atmosphere and how oxidized mercury is formed. We have developed a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-based system for identification and quantification of atmospheric oxidized mercury compounds. The system consists of an ambient air collection device, a thermal desorption module, a cryofocusing system, a gas chromatograph, and an ultra-sensitive mass spectrometer. It was able to separate and identify mercury halides with detection limits low enough for ambient air collection (90 pg), but an improved ambient air collection device is needed. The GC/MS system was unable to quantify HgO or Hg(NO3)2, and data collected cast doubt upon the existence of HgO in the gas phase.

scholarly journals Detection and quantification of gas-phase oxidized mercury compounds by GC/MS

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. P. Jones ◽  
S. N. Lyman ◽  
D. A. Jaffe ◽  
T. Allen ◽  
T. L. O'Neil
Keyword(s):  
Gas Phase ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Gas Chromatograph ◽  
Mercury Compounds ◽  
System A ◽  
Collection Device ◽  
Cast Doubt ◽  
Mercury Halides

Abstract. Most mercury pollution is emitted to the atmosphere, and the location and bioavailability of deposited mercury largely depends on poorly understood atmospheric chemical reactions that convert elemental mercury into oxidized mercury compounds. Current measurement methods do not speciate oxidized mercury, leading to uncertainty about which mercury compounds exist in the atmosphere and how oxidized mercury is formed. We have developed a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-based system for identification and quantification of atmospheric oxidized mercury compounds. The system consists of an ambient air collection device, a thermal desorption module, a cryofocusing system, a gas chromatograph, and an ultra-sensitive mass spectrometer. It was able to separate and identify mercury halides with detection limits low enough for ambient air collection (90 pg), but an improved ambient air collection device is needed. The GC/MS system was unable to quantify HgO or Hg(NO3)2, and data collected cast doubt upon the existence of HgO in the gas phase.

scholarly journals Release of mercury halides from KCl denuders in the presence of ozone

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 12563-12584 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. N. Lyman ◽  
D. A. Jaffe ◽  
M. S. Gustin
Keyword(s):  
Collection Efficiency ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Field Site ◽  
Field Sampling ◽  
Field Calibration ◽  
Mercury Compounds ◽  
Calibration Methods ◽  
Clear Identification ◽  
Mercury Halides ◽  
Gaseous Oxidized Mercury

Abstract. KCl-coated denuders have become a standard method for measurement of gaseous oxidized mercury, but their performance has not been exhaustively evaluated, especially in field conditions. In this study, KCl-coated and uncoated quartz denuders loaded with HgCl2 and HgBr2 lost 29–55% of these compounds, apparently as elemental mercury, when exposed to ozone (range of 6–100 ppb tested). This effect was also observed for denuders loaded with gaseous oxidized mercury at a field site in Nevada (3–37% of oxidized mercury lost). In addition, collection efficiency decreased by 12–30% for denuders exposed to 50 ppb ozone during collection of HgCl2. While data presented were obtained from laboratory tests and as such do not exactly simulate field sampling conditions, these results indicate that the KCl denuder GOM collection method may not be as robust as previously thought. This work highlights needs for further testing of this method, clear identification of gaseous oxidized mercury compounds in the atmosphere, and development of field calibration methods for these compounds.

Biofiltration of dichlorobenzenes

2001 ◽  
Vol 44 (9) ◽  
pp. 287-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Roberge ◽  
M.J. Gravel ◽  
L. Deschênes ◽  
C. Guy ◽  
R. Samson
Keyword(s):  
Gas Phase ◽  
Contaminated Soil ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Animal Manure ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Peat Moss ◽  
Aerobic Treatment ◽  
Load Variations ◽  
System A

The use of air biofiltration for the degradation of dichlorobenzenes (1,2-DCB and 1,4-DCB) was studied at a refinery site. At this plant, 93 m3/h of contaminated groundwater, used in a cooling system and containing a maximum of 2 ppm of dichlorobenzenes, had to be treated. Stripping of the DCBs followed by biofiltration was selected as the most suitable technology to avoid volatilization in ambient air as expected with a wastewater aerobic treatment system. A stripper of 15 m height and 1.27 m diameter was designed as a first step treatment to volatilize DCBs with 3400 m3/h of air. Two full-scale biofilters of 70 m3 each were built and filled with 45 m3 of filtering media for the adsorption and biodegradation of the DCBs in the gas-phase. Filtering media was composed mainly of peat moss, with animal manure, wood chips and DCBs contaminated soil. Air to be treated was also contaminated with naphthalene. Laboratory tests showed an effective microbial activity in the contaminated soil and in the filtering media for DCBs degradation. Degradation of naphthalene induced slower degradation of DCBs. Full-scale operation was studied during four months. Water flow and DCBs content in the water entering the stripper were lower than expected with only 57 m3/h and a maximum concentration of only 240 ppb. Effective desorption was obtained in the stripper in the full-scale operation (more than 99% removal). Full-scale biofilters maintained a DCB concentration of less than 1 ppmv in the air outlet, but removal efficiency varied between 0 and 79% because of the low DCB inlet concentrations, load variations and sporadic naphthalene presence.

scholarly journals Release of mercury halides from KCl denuders in the presence of ozone

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (17) ◽  
pp. 8197-8204 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. N. Lyman ◽  
D. A. Jaffe ◽  
M. S. Gustin
Keyword(s):  
Collection Efficiency ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Field Site ◽  
Field Sampling ◽  
Field Calibration ◽  
Mercury Compounds ◽  
Calibration Methods ◽  
Clear Identification ◽  
Mercury Halides ◽  
Gaseous Oxidized Mercury

Abstract. KCl-coated denuders have become a standard method for measurement of gaseous oxidized mercury, but their performance has not been exhaustively evaluated, especially in field conditions. In this study, KCl-coated and uncoated quartz denuders loaded with HgCl2 and HgBr2 lost 29–55% of these compounds, apparently as elemental mercury, when exposed to ozone (range of 6–100 ppb tested). This effect was also observed for denuders loaded with gaseous oxidized mercury at a field site in Nevada (3–37% of oxidized mercury lost). In addition, collection efficiency decreased by 12–30% for denuders exposed to 50 ppb ozone during collection of HgCl2. While data presented were obtained from laboratory tests and as such do not exactly simulate field sampling conditions, these results indicate that the KCl denuder oxidized mercury collection method may not be as robust as previously thought. This work highlights needs for further testing of this method, clear identification of gaseous oxidized mercury compounds in the atmosphere, and development of field calibration methods for these compounds.

New Methods for Analyzing Water Pollutants

1982 ◽  
Vol 14 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 59-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
L H Keith ◽  
R C Hall ◽  
R C Hanisch ◽  
R G Landolt ◽  
J E Henderson
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Gas Chromatography ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Gas Chromatograph ◽  
New Class ◽  
New Methods ◽  
System A ◽  
Drinking Waters ◽  
Computer Controlled ◽  
Nitrogen Containing Compounds

Two new methods have been developed to analyze for organic pollutants in water. The first, two-dimensional gas chromatography, using post detector peak recycling (PDPR), involves the use of a computer-controlled gas Chromatograph to selectively trap compounds of interest and rechromatograph them on a second column, recycling them through the same detector again. The second employs a new detector system, a thermally modulated electron capture detector (TMECD). Both methods were used to demonstrate their utility by applying them to the analysis of a new class of potentially ubiquitous anthropoaqueous pollutants in drinking waters- -haloacetonitriles. These newly identified compounds are produced from certain amino acids and other nitrogen-containing compounds reacting with chlorine during the disinfection stage of treatment.

scholarly journals Air Concentrations of Gaseous Elemental Mercury and Vegetation–Air Fluxes within Saltmarshes of the Tagus Estuary, Portugal

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 228
Author(s):  
Rute Cesário ◽  
Nelson J. O’Driscoll ◽  
Sara Justino ◽  
Claire E. Wilson ◽  
Carlos E. Monteiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Tagus Estuary ◽  
Contaminated Site ◽  
Gaseous Elemental Mercury ◽  
Mercury Flux ◽  
Sarcocornia Fruticosa ◽  
Air Concentrations

In situ air concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury (Hg(0)) and vegetation–atmosphere fluxes were quantified in both high (Cala Norte, CN) and low-to-moderate (Alcochete, ALC) Hg-contaminated saltmarsh areas of the Tagus estuary colonized by plant species Halimione portulacoides (Hp) and Sarcocornia fruticosa (Sf). Atmospheric Hg(0) ranged between 1.08–18.15 ng m−3 in CN and 1.18–3.53 ng m−3 in ALC. In CN, most of the high Hg(0) levels occurred during nighttime, while the opposite was observed at ALC, suggesting that photoreduction was not driving the air Hg(0) concentrations at the contaminated site. Vegetation–air Hg(0) fluxes were low in ALC and ranged from −0.76 to 1.52 ng m−2 (leaf area) h−1 for Hp and from −0.40 to 1.28 ng m−2 (leaf area) h−1 for Sf. In CN, higher Hg fluxes were observed for both plants, ranging from −9.90 to 15.45 ng m−2 (leaf area) h−1 for Hp and from −8.93 to 12.58 ng m−2 (leaf area) h−1 for Sf. Mercury flux results at CN were considered less reliable due to large and fast variations in the ambient air concentrations of Hg(0), which may have been influenced by emissions from the nearby chlor-alkali plant, or historical contamination. Improved experimental setup, the influence of high local Hg concentrations and the seasonal activity of the plants must be considered when assessing vegetation–air Hg(0) fluxes in Hg-contaminated areas.

scholarly journals Rapid Determination of Ethylene Oxide and 75 VOCs in Ambient Air with Canister Sampling and Associated Growth Issues

Separations ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Jason Hoisington ◽  
Jason S. Herrington
Keyword(s):  
Ethylene Oxide ◽  
Rapid Determination ◽  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Average Accuracy ◽  
Relative Standard ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Us Epa

A canister-based sampling method along with preconcentrator-Gas chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was applied to ethylene oxide (EtO or EO) and 75 other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ambient air. Ambient air can contain a large variety of VOCs, and thorough analysis requires non-discriminatory sampling and a chromatographic method capable of resolving a complex mixture. Canister collection of whole air samples allows for the collection of a wide range of volatile compounds, while the simultaneous analysis of ethylene oxide and other VOCs allows for faster throughput than separate methods. The method presented is based on US EPA Method TO-15A and allows for the detection of EtO from 18 to 2500 pptv. The method has an average accuracy of 104% and precision of 13% relative standard deviation (RSD), with an instrument run time of 32 min. In addition, a link between canister cleanliness and ethylene oxide growth is observed, and potential mechanisms and cleaning strategies are addressed.

scholarly journals Amines in boreal forest air at SMEAR II station in Finland

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 6367-6380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marja Hemmilä ◽  
Heidi Hellén ◽  
Aki Virkkula ◽  
Ulla Makkonen ◽  
Arnaud P. Praplan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Particle Number ◽  
Detection Limits ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Monthly Means ◽  
Ammonium Ions ◽  
Quadrupole Mass ◽  
Concentration Data ◽  
Diurnal Variability

Abstract. We measured amines in boreal forest air in Finland both in gas and particle phases with 1 h time resolution using an online ion chromatograph (instrument for Measuring AeRosols and Gases in Ambient Air – MARGA) connected to an electrospray ionization quadrupole mass spectrometer (MS). The developed MARGA-MS method was able to separate and detect seven different amines: monomethylamine (MMA), dimethylamine (DMA), trimethylamine (TMA), ethylamine (EA), diethylamine (DEA), propylamine (PA), and butylamine (BA). The detection limits of the method for amines were low (0.2–3.1 ng m−3), the accuracy of IC-MS analysis was 11–37 %, and the precision 10–15 %. The proper measurements in the boreal forest covered about 8 weeks between March and December 2015. The amines were found to be an inhomogeneous group of compounds, showing different seasonal and diurnal variability. Total MMA (MMA(tot)) peaked together with the sum of ammonia and ammonium ions already in March. In March, monthly means for MMA were < 2.4 and 6.8 ± 9.1 ng m−3 in gas and aerosol phases, respectively, and for NH3 and NH4+ these were 52 ± 16 and 425 ± 371 ng m−3, respectively. Monthly medians in March for MMA(tot), NH3, and NH4+ were < 2.4, 19 and 90 ng m−3, respectively. DMA(tot) and TMA(tot) had summer maxima indicating biogenic sources. We observed diurnal variation for DMA(tot) but not for TMA(tot). The highest concentrations of these compounds were measured in July. Then, monthly means for DMA were < 3.1 and 8.4 ± 3.1 ng m−3 in gas and aerosol phases, respectively, and for TMA these were 0.4 ± 0.1 and 1.8 ± 0.5 ng m−3. Monthly medians in July for DMA were below the detection limit (DL) and 4.9 ng m−3 in gas and aerosol phases, respectively, and for TMA these were 0.4 and 1.4 ng m−3. When relative humidity of air was > 90 %, gas-phase DMA correlated well with 1.1–2 nm particle number concentration (R2=0.63) suggesting that it participates in atmospheric clustering. EA concentrations were low all the time. Its July means were < 0.36 and 0.4 ± 0.4 ng m−3 in gas and aerosol phases, respectively, but individual concentration data correlated well with monoterpene concentrations in July. Monthly means of PA and BA were below detection limits at all times.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document