title: Use of a versatile high efficiency multiparallel denuder for the sampling of PAHs in ambient air: gas and particle phase concentrations, particle size distribution and artifact formation.
abstract: The design and performance of a multiparallel plate denuder able to operate at low and high-flow (3-30 L/min) for the collection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) vapor is described. The denuder, in combination with a micro orifice uniform deposit impactor (MOUDI) was used to assess processes of artifact formation in MOUDIs used with and without an upstream denuder. Duplicate sampling trains with an upstream denuder showed good repeatability of the measured gas and particle-phase concentrations and low breakthrough in the denuder (3.5-15%). The PAH size distributions within undenuded and denuded MOUDIs were studied. Use of the denuder altered the measured size distribution of PAHs toward smaller sizes, but both denuded and undenuded systems are subject to sampling artifacts.
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Atmospheric Science Division of Environmental Health & Risk Management School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences University of Birmingham Edgbaston , Birmingham B15 2TT United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Juana Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Delgado-Saborit
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: Roy M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D016477:Artifacts; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013048:Specimen Handling; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D005740:Gases; D052638:Particulate Matter; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds