The objective of this work was to study the possibility
of identifying and quantifying atmospheric carbonate
carbon (CC) by thermal-optical analysis. Three different
temperature protocols, two modified NIOSH-like protocols
(RT-QUARTZ-840 and RT-QUARTZ-700), and the EUSAAR
2 protocol were tested on filter samples containing
known amounts of CC with the semi-continuous Sunset analyzer.
Carbonate was quantified by the manual integration of
the sharp peak appeared at the maximum temperature step
of the inert mode. High recoveries of CC were achieved
by all the thermal protocols. Using the EUSAAR 2 thermal
protocol, more than 95% of CC evolved as OC during
the maximum temperature step in inert atmosphere for CC
amounts up to 56 μg. Using the RT-QUARTZ-840 protocol
specifically developed for on-line analyses, CC completely
evolves as OC during the maximum temperature step in the
inert node, regardless of the CC concentration. However, the
quantification of CC by the RT-QUARTZ-840 protocol suitable
for the semi-continuous analyzer implies a high level
of uncertainty (manual integration, residual contribution of
organic carbon). Therefore, it is advisable to determine CC
with an independent method (e.g. by acidic decomposition of
CO2− 3 and subsequent detection of CO2) when other sample
aliquots are available. The comparison of the peak integration
method with the direct determination of the CC sample
content by acidic CO2 release showed that the peak integration
method provides always higher CC concentrations
of about 33 %. Nevertheless, the determination of CC with
the RT-QUARTZ-840 protocol may be considered in cases
where on line monitoring instruments are used and for areas
Correspondence to: A. Karanasiou
(angeliki.karanasiou@idaea.csic.es)
where CC concentrations are expected to be significant e.g.
Southern European countries. This case study suggests that
users of the semi continuous Sunset analyzer can manually
integrate the sharp peak (if present) at the maximum temperature
step of the He mode (between 128–130 and 160–165 s
when using the RT-QUARTZ-840 protocol) and calculate the
CC concentration though with a rather high error.
KARANASIOU A.;
DIAPOULI E.;
CAVALLI Fabrizia;
ELEFTHERIADIS K.;
VIANA Mar;
ALASTUEY Andres;
QUEROL X.;
RECHE C.;
2013-03-21
COPERNICUS GESELLSCHAFT MBH
JRC65294
1867-1381,
www.atmos-meas-tech.net/4/2409/2011/,
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC65294,
10.5194/amt-4-2409-2011,
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