title: Electrochemical detection of nitrate in PM2.5 with a copper-modified carbon fiber micro-disk electrode.
abstract: The accurate measurement of nitrate in PM2.5 is essential for a complete understanding of the effects of aerosols on human health, the impact of aerosols on the radiative balance of the earth and the role of aerosols in visibility problems. In this paper, we present a novel, quick, easy, cheap and eco-friendly electroanalytical procedure for the determination of nitrate in PM2.5 samples using a carbon-fiber micro-disk electrode (CFMDE) coupled with square-wave voltammetry (SWV). Under optimal experimental conditions the nitrate SWV response increases linearly with nitrate concentration over a range of 0.003-2.0 mmol L(-1), and the detection limit is 1.10 μmol L(-1) (S/N=3). Nitrate contents in daily PM2.5 of Yangzhou in China were detected successfully by employing this novel method, and the results were compared well with those obtained by using ion chromatography. Then, we detected nitrate in two-hour PM2.5 filter samples via the standard addition method, and the concentrations were applied in an analysis of the daily change of nitrate contained in PM2.5 of Yangzhou. The research in this work indicates that the electrochemical method opens a new opportunity for fast, portable, and sensitive analysis of components in PM2.5.
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Engineering, Yangzhou University, 88 South University Avenue, Yangzhou 225002, PR China; Chemistry and Biology Engineering College, Yancheng Institute of Technology, 9 Yingbin Avenue, Yancheng 224051, PR China.
authors.forename: Liangyun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Chemistry and Biology Engineering College, Yancheng Institute of Technology, 9 Yingbin Avenue, Yancheng 224051, PR China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Engineering, Yangzhou University, 88 South University Avenue, Yangzhou 225002, PR China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Yangzhou Polytechnic Institute, 199 HuaYang Road, Yangzhou 225127, PR China.
authors.forename: Dangqin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Biological and Chemical Engineering, Yangzhou Polytechnic College, 458 Wenchang Road, Yangzhou 225009, PR China.
authors.forename: Gendi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Engineering, Yangzhou University, 88 South University Avenue, Yangzhou 225002, PR China.
authors.forename: Kexin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Engineering, Yangzhou University, 88 South University Avenue, Yangzhou 225002, PR China. Electronic address: xyhu@yzu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiaoya
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
keywords: Carbon fiber; Copper-modified; Electrochemical detection; Nitrate; PM(2.5)