Detection and determination of volatile metal compounds in the atmosphere by a Mist-UV sampling system

摘要

A newly developed system (Mist-UV sampling system) to simultaneously trap and detect metal compounds in the atmosphere is described. Metals present in atmospheric samples as volatile metal compounds (VMCs), including those associated with condensation mode particles, are simultaneously oxidized by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation (low-pressure mercury lamp) and dissolved in nitric acid mist in an oxidation chamber. Air is first passed through a 0.2 μm filter and then mixed with a nitric acid mist and exposed to UV radiation after which it is passed through a nitric acid trap. After trapping, the inorganic metals resulting from the VMCs and particulates are quantitatively determined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).