Development of a highly sensitive sampler for atmospheric monitoring of 8-H ambient ozone concentrations

Abstract

A new passive sampler reinforced with a composite membrane was developed to determine the 8-h ozone (O-3) concentration in ambient air. The composite membrane's water absorption capacity and porosity values were found analyzing its surface morphology using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Ozone adsorption performance of this sampler was tested by a badge-type sampler and automated measurement results. The developed sampler gave results equivalent (R-2 = 0.85) to those of automated O-3 monitors, and its experimental sampling rate was determined to be 55 cm(3)/min, approximately two times higher than the rate of the badge-type sampler. The detection limit obtained (5.3 mu g/m(3), 8 h sampling) in the study was adequate for winter-period samplings where in the ozone concentration is low in urban and semi-urban areas. Multimedia sampling results revealed that the results of the developed passive sampler had a high repeatability (RSD < 20%). Passive samplers reinforced with composite membranes were tested by badge-type samplers performing simultaneous samplings in land conditions. Area sampling results indicated that badge-type samplers were not suitable for 8-h area samplings, but tube-type samplers could be used.