Development of methods for sampling and determination of gaseous pollutants in the atmosphere using diffusional microporous capillary membrane scrubber

Author(s)

Lúcia Helena Gomes Coelho

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ)
• Defense date: 2009-11-23

Examining board members

Ivano Gebhardt Rolf Gutz; Maria de Fatima Andrade; Arnaldo Alves Cardoso; Claudimir Lucio do Lago; Fábio Rodrigo Piovezani Rocha

• Advisor: Ivano Gebhardt Rolf Gutz

Abstract

The development and application of porous membrane diffusion samplers for fast and efficient pre-concentration of an array of trace air pollutants was emphasized in this thesis, in conjunction with compatible separation and determination techniques, especially capillary electrophoresis. New applications were found for a formerly developed diffusion scrubber based on a bundle of microporous hollow polypropylene capillary membranes and for a scaled down version with a single core capillary membrane diffusion scrubber (CMDS) comprising an internal volume of 30 µL, were used for sampling of the trace level pollutants to an adequate liquid acceptor. The low-flow of acceptor solution, 1.0 µL min-1, required by the CMDS was satisfied by pressurization of the reservoir with an aquarium pump combined with flow regulation by a silica capillary as hydrodynamic resistor and a needle valve. Another aquarium pump was used for the aspiration of the sampled air through the sampler. The low volumes collected in the CMDS were stored in 200 µL vials inserted in a cooling plate of a Peltier device. The robust and compact system was used for sampling of formaldehyde (CH2O), formic acid, acetic acid and ammonia in the gaseous phase of the atmosphere. For chemical species with high Henry´s constant, deionized water suffices as acceptor phase. Otherwise, equilibria displacement to a non-volatile ion, like NH4 + for NH3 sampling, promoted quantitative retention in the acceptor phase. The concentrations of the analytes in the liquid phase were determined by capillary electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductometric detection (CEC4D). The detection limits obtained in the liquid phase for formate, acetate, formaldehyde (in the form of the adduct hydroxymethanesulfonate HMS) and ammonium were 1,0, 1,5, 1,2 e 1,2 µmol L-1 respectively (what corresponds to 0,9, 3,0, 1,0 e 0,7 µg m-3 of the respective gaseous species in the air). The higher volume of acceptor phase provided by the sampler with a bundle of microporous membrane capillaries (~600 µL) are in tune with the needs of flow injection analysis (FIA), as demonstrated for amperometric detection of CH2O on a platinized gold electrode. The interferences from SO2 and H2O2 were overcome by adding H2O2 to the acceptor solution to promote the oxidation of S(IV) to S(VI) and destruction of the oxidant afterwards in a column with immobilized catalase enzyme. The aquarium pump used for gas aspiration was substituted to a piston pump, taken from arterial blood pressure meter fed with 8 V D.C., to turn possible field collections with the CMDS device. The system was used for the sampling of H2S, SO2 e alkyl-mercaptans in the gaseous phase of the atmosphere. To succeed on that, the samplings were performed in alkaline media to promote deprotonation of the species (and stabilization in non-volatile forms). The collected analytes were determined by CE-C4D or by solid phase microextraction (SPME) followed by GC analysis. The joint use of the antioxidant ascorbate for sample preservation and ethanol for fixation of the volatile compounds allowed the establishment of a complete protocol for sampling, storage and detection of the sulfur reduced species with enough sensitivity for monitoring biogenic emissions from waste discharge. Perfect matching of the low-volume characteristics of the CMDS device and the CE-C4D equipment led to the conception of a low-cost automatic CMDS-CE-C4D total analysis system (TAS) and its innovative and successful application to near-realtime simultaneous analysis of formic acid and acetic acid in air. During the evaluation of one sample, the TAS collects a new one, with valves, pumps and high voltage delivery under software control. Advantages include rapidity (10 data points per hour for each analyte), high preconcentration efficiency, simplicity and versatility, minimum sample and reagent consumption and residue generation (green analytical method), no need of costly high pressure pumps and separation columns like those used in HPLC (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 04/15290-5 - Refinement of methodologies for the collection and determination of pollutants in gas phase in the atmosphere using diffusion sampling with micro-porous capillary membranes
• Grantee: Lucia Helena Gomes Coelho
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate