Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
156167 
Journal Article 
Comparison of two methods for the determination of water-soluble organic carbon in atmospheric particles 
Yang, H; Li, Q; Yu, JZ 
2003 
1 
Atmospheric Environment
ISSN: 1352-2310
EISSN: 1873-2844 
37 
6 
865-870 
WOS:000181152500012 
In this work, we have compared two methods for the
determination of water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) in ambient aerosols, one based on a total
organic carbon analyzer (TOC) and the other based on an aerosol carbon analyzer (ACA). The two
instruments entail different pre-analysis treatment of aerosol water extracts. Standard compounds
spiked onto filters showed satisfactory recovery ranging from 75% to 105% by the two methods,
demonstrating that the extraction procedures and subsequent pre-analysis pre-treatment are
quantitative in both methods. Measurements of standard compounds and aerosol samples show that
the two methods give equivalent results by paired t-test. The TOC method offers a limit of
detection (LOD) of 2.6 mug/sample, whereas the ACA method gives a LOD of 4.8 mug/sample. Acid
treatment to remove carbonate carbon was found unnecessary for the determination of WSOC in PM2.5
aerosols. Although the sample treatment procedures and the detection limits of these two methods
are different to some extent, both are suitable for the determination of WSOC in aerosol samples.
The TOC method has the advantages of requiring less time in sample pre-treatment and offering
slightly lower detection limit. The TOC instruments also have the,additional advantage of
automated sample analysis while the ACA instruments require manual operation. (C) 2002 Elsevier
Science Ltd. All rights reserved. 
water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC); total organic carbon analyzer (TOC); aerosol carbon analyzer (ACA); atmospheric particles; determination