Procedure

Technical Report

Overview

This Technical Report describes a method for the determination of the mass of water soluble NO₃^-, SO₄^2-, Cl^-, NH₄⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ ions in PM_2,5 which complies with Directive 2008/50/EC. Until now, measurements of anions and cations in particulate matter have been performed by the EMEP programme, mainly by using filterpacks with limited size selectivity. Directive 2008/50/EC requires that measurements at rural sites, where appropriate, should be coordinated with the strategy and measurement programme of EMEP. Although there are different sampling procedures involved, a common approach is used for the analytical procedure. In order to keep the agreement between existing EMEP data and data to be produced using this Technical Report as close as possible, the EMEP protocol has been taken as the starting point for this Technical Report. The Technical Report differs from the EMEP protocol in the sense that measurement of anions and cations are done in PM_2,5. Furthermore, a number of critical parameters (for example, choice of filter materials) were fixed. The measuring procedure described comprises sampling of anions and cations as part of the PM_2,5 particulate phase, sample extraction and analysis of anions and cations by ion chromatography. Cations, excluding ammonium, can be analysed alternatively by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The Technical Report may be used at rural background monitoring sites that are in accordance with the requirements of Directive 2008/50/EC. However, since no validation in the field has been carried out for the method described, it may be considered that the method is equally applicable to all site types. It is planned, however, to apply for a mandate of the EU/EFTA in order to carry out validation measurements in Europe based on this Technical Report. This shall be followed by the publication of a European Standard which contains the method described and afterwards validated in this Technical Report. The Technical Report has been prepared by Working Group CEN/TC 264/WG 34 "Cations and anions in PM" at Technical Committee 264 "Air quality". On the national level, the responsible committee is Subcommittee NA 134-04-02-10 UA "Messen von Metallen und Halbmetallen (I)" ("Measurement of metals and semimetals (I)") of Technical Section IV "Umweltmesstechnik" ("Environmental measurement engineering") of the Commission on air pollution prevention of VDI and DIN - Standards Committee KRdL.

Document: references other documents

Responsible national committee

NA 134-04-02-10 UA - Measurement of atmospheric depositions and elements in ambient air  

Responsible european committee

CEN/TC 264 - Air quality