title: Validation of atmospheric aerosols parallel sampling in a multifold device.
abstract: In this work, particulate matter was collected using an active sampling system consisting of a PM10 (<10 μm) inlet coupled to a multifold device containing six channels, connected to a vacuum pump. Each channel was equipped with a filter holder fitted with adequately chosen filters. The system was fixed on a metallic structure, which was placed on the roof of the laboratory building, at the Faculty of Sciences, in Lisbon. Sampling took place under flow-controlled conditions. Aerosols were extracted from the filters with water, in defined conditions, and the water-soluble fraction was quantified by ion chromatography (IC) for the determination of inorganic anions (Cl(-), NO3 (-) and SO4 (2-)). Equivalent sampling through the various channels was validated. Validation was based on the metrological compatibility of the content results for the various filters. Ion masses are metrologically equivalent when their absolute difference is smaller than the respective expanded uncertainty. When this condition is verified, the studied multifold device produces equivalent samples.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Química Estrutural-Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal, cmoliveira@fc.ul.pt.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Camões
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bigus
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Fachado
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis*; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D000838:Anions / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants; D000838:Anions; D052638:Particulate Matter; D014867:Water