Comparison of low cost measurement techniques for long-term monitoring of atmospheric ammonia

Sutton, M. A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6263-6341; Miners, M A; Tang, Y. S.; Milford, C; Wyers, G P; Duyzer, J H; Fowler, D.. 2001 Comparison of low cost measurement techniques for long-term monitoring of atmospheric ammonia. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 3. 446-453. 10.1039/b102303a

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Abstract/Summary

An inter-comparison of techniques for long-term sampling of atmospheric ammonia (NH3) was conducted with a view to establishing a national network with >50 sites. Key requirements were for: a low cost system, simplicity and durability to enable a postal exchange with local site operators, a precision of <±20% for monthly sampling at expected NH3 concentrations of 1–2 µg m–3, a detection limit sufficient to resolve the small NH3 concentrations (<0.2 µg m–3) expected in remote parts of the UK, and a quantitative means to establish quality control. Five sampling methods were compared: A, a commercially available membrane diffusion tube (exposed in triplicate), with membranes removed immediately after sampling; B, the above method, with the membranes left in place until analysis; C, open-ended diffusion tubes (exposed with 4 replicates); D, a new active sampling diffusion denuder system; and E, an active sampling bubbler system. Method D consisted of two 0.1 m acid coated glass denuders in series with sampling at 0.3 l min–1. These methods were deployed at 6 locations in the UK and the Netherlands and compared against reference estimates. Method D was the most precise and sensitive of the techniques compared, with a detection limit of <0.1 µg m–3. The bubbler provided a less precise estimate of NH3 concentration, and also suffered several practical drawbacks. The diffusion tubes were found to correlate with the reference at high concentrations (>3 µg m–3), but were less precise and overestimated NH3 at smaller concentrations. Of the passive methods, A was the most precise and C the least precise. On the basis of the results, method D has been implemented in the national network, together with application of method A to explore spatial variability in regions with expected high NH3 concentrations.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1039/b102303a
Programmes:	CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biogeochemistry
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Billett (to November 2013)
ISSN:	1464-0325
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Atmospheric Sciences
Date made live:	04 Sep 2008 09:01 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/3669

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