Two high-speed, portable GC systems designed for the measurement of non-methane hydrocarbons and PAN: Results from the Jungfraujoch High Altitude Observatory

L K  Whalley; A C  Lewis; J B  McQuaid; R M  Purvis; J D  Lee; K  Stemmler; C  Zellweger; P  Ridgeon

doi:10.1039/b310022g

Two high-speed, portable GC systems designed for the measurement of non-methane hydrocarbons and PAN: Results from the Jungfraujoch High Altitude Observatory

L K Whalley, A C Lewis, J B McQuaid, R M Purvis, J D Lee, K Stemmler, C Zellweger, P Ridgeon

Chemistry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Near real-time measurements of light non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) have been performed in the free troposphere using two fast gas chromatography (GC) instruments designed for use on aircraft. A GC-helium ionisation detector (HID) system measured 15 C-2-C-5 hydrocarbons with 5 min time resolution and a dual channel GC-Electron Capture Detector (ECD) measured PAN with 90 s resolution. Both instruments had low parts per trillion by volume (pptV) detection limits and ran continuously at the remote Jungfraujoch (JFJ) research station in the Swiss Alps (46.55degreesN, 7.98degreesE), 3580 m above mean sea level (AMSL), during February/March 2003. Carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide and all odd nitrogen species (NOy) were also measured continuously. Hydrocarbons and CO were strongly correlated in all air-masses whilst PAN exhibited both positive and negative correlations with respect to O-3, dependent on age and origin of the air-mass sampled. PAN was found to contribute similar to20%, to the NOy sampled on average. The experiment, as well as providing interesting datasets from this remote location, also demonstrated that when optimised, GC techniques have the potential to measure at a time resolution significantly greater than is traditionally considered, with high sensitivity and low uncertainty.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	234-241
Number of pages	8
Journal	Journal of Environmental Monitoring
Volume	6
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1039/b310022g
Publication status	Published - Mar 2004

Keywords

REACTION-MASS-SPECTROMETRY
VOLATILE ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS
ALPINE SITE JUNGFRAUJOCH
FREE TROPOSPHERE
PTR-MS
OZONE PRODUCTION
AMBIENT AIR
SWITZERLAND
NITROGEN
CLIMATOLOGY

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10.1039/b310022g

Cite this

@article{2eab9bd46db84522ac9d67053ab43d48,

title = "Two high-speed, portable GC systems designed for the measurement of non-methane hydrocarbons and PAN: Results from the Jungfraujoch High Altitude Observatory",

abstract = "Near real-time measurements of light non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) have been performed in the free troposphere using two fast gas chromatography (GC) instruments designed for use on aircraft. A GC-helium ionisation detector (HID) system measured 15 C-2-C-5 hydrocarbons with 5 min time resolution and a dual channel GC-Electron Capture Detector (ECD) measured PAN with 90 s resolution. Both instruments had low parts per trillion by volume (pptV) detection limits and ran continuously at the remote Jungfraujoch (JFJ) research station in the Swiss Alps (46.55degreesN, 7.98degreesE), 3580 m above mean sea level (AMSL), during February/March 2003. Carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide and all odd nitrogen species (NOy) were also measured continuously. Hydrocarbons and CO were strongly correlated in all air-masses whilst PAN exhibited both positive and negative correlations with respect to O-3, dependent on age and origin of the air-mass sampled. PAN was found to contribute similar to20%, to the NOy sampled on average. The experiment, as well as providing interesting datasets from this remote location, also demonstrated that when optimised, GC techniques have the potential to measure at a time resolution significantly greater than is traditionally considered, with high sensitivity and low uncertainty.",

keywords = "REACTION-MASS-SPECTROMETRY, VOLATILE ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS, ALPINE SITE JUNGFRAUJOCH, FREE TROPOSPHERE, PTR-MS, OZONE PRODUCTION, AMBIENT AIR, SWITZERLAND, NITROGEN, CLIMATOLOGY",

author = "Whalley, {L K} and Lewis, {A C} and McQuaid, {J B} and Purvis, {R M} and Lee, {J D} and K Stemmler and C Zellweger and P Ridgeon",

year = "2004",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1039/b310022g",

language = "English",

volume = "6",

pages = "234--241",

journal = "Journal of Environmental Monitoring",

issn = "1464-0325",

publisher = "The Royal Society of Chemistry",

number = "3",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Two high-speed, portable GC systems designed for the measurement of non-methane hydrocarbons and PAN: Results from the Jungfraujoch High Altitude Observatory

AU - Whalley, L K

AU - Lewis, A C

AU - McQuaid, J B

AU - Purvis, R M

AU - Lee, J D

AU - Stemmler, K

AU - Zellweger, C

AU - Ridgeon, P

PY - 2004/3

Y1 - 2004/3

N2 - Near real-time measurements of light non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) have been performed in the free troposphere using two fast gas chromatography (GC) instruments designed for use on aircraft. A GC-helium ionisation detector (HID) system measured 15 C-2-C-5 hydrocarbons with 5 min time resolution and a dual channel GC-Electron Capture Detector (ECD) measured PAN with 90 s resolution. Both instruments had low parts per trillion by volume (pptV) detection limits and ran continuously at the remote Jungfraujoch (JFJ) research station in the Swiss Alps (46.55degreesN, 7.98degreesE), 3580 m above mean sea level (AMSL), during February/March 2003. Carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide and all odd nitrogen species (NOy) were also measured continuously. Hydrocarbons and CO were strongly correlated in all air-masses whilst PAN exhibited both positive and negative correlations with respect to O-3, dependent on age and origin of the air-mass sampled. PAN was found to contribute similar to20%, to the NOy sampled on average. The experiment, as well as providing interesting datasets from this remote location, also demonstrated that when optimised, GC techniques have the potential to measure at a time resolution significantly greater than is traditionally considered, with high sensitivity and low uncertainty.

AB - Near real-time measurements of light non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) have been performed in the free troposphere using two fast gas chromatography (GC) instruments designed for use on aircraft. A GC-helium ionisation detector (HID) system measured 15 C-2-C-5 hydrocarbons with 5 min time resolution and a dual channel GC-Electron Capture Detector (ECD) measured PAN with 90 s resolution. Both instruments had low parts per trillion by volume (pptV) detection limits and ran continuously at the remote Jungfraujoch (JFJ) research station in the Swiss Alps (46.55degreesN, 7.98degreesE), 3580 m above mean sea level (AMSL), during February/March 2003. Carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide and all odd nitrogen species (NOy) were also measured continuously. Hydrocarbons and CO were strongly correlated in all air-masses whilst PAN exhibited both positive and negative correlations with respect to O-3, dependent on age and origin of the air-mass sampled. PAN was found to contribute similar to20%, to the NOy sampled on average. The experiment, as well as providing interesting datasets from this remote location, also demonstrated that when optimised, GC techniques have the potential to measure at a time resolution significantly greater than is traditionally considered, with high sensitivity and low uncertainty.

KW - REACTION-MASS-SPECTROMETRY

KW - VOLATILE ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS

KW - ALPINE SITE JUNGFRAUJOCH

KW - FREE TROPOSPHERE

KW - PTR-MS

KW - OZONE PRODUCTION

KW - AMBIENT AIR

KW - SWITZERLAND

KW - NITROGEN

KW - CLIMATOLOGY

U2 - 10.1039/b310022g

DO - 10.1039/b310022g

M3 - Article

SN - 1464-0325

VL - 6

SP - 234

EP - 241

JO - Journal of Environmental Monitoring

JF - Journal of Environmental Monitoring

IS - 3

ER -