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Materials selection for a dry atmospheric mercury deposits sampler
1EVSE, Environmental Engineering Program, Faculty of Engineering, University of Regina, SK, Canada.
Chemosphere
|November 7, 2001
Summary
Glass and Teflon are ideal materials for atmospheric mercury samplers, showing minimal mercury adsorption. Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were also tested for mercury deposition measurements.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Atmospheric Chemistry
Background:
- Accurate measurement of atmospheric mercury dry deposition requires materials that do not interact with mercury.
- Existing sampling methods need validation regarding material inertness to mercury.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate four materials (glass, Teflon, PVC, ABS) for their suitability in samplers for atmospheric mercury dry deposition.
- To determine mercury adsorption/release characteristics of materials under various environmental conditions.
Main Methods:
- Materials (glass, Teflon, PVC, ABS) were exposed to mercuric solutions under varied pH, preservative, concentration, temperature, and acid conditions.
- Mercury concentrations were quantified using the cold-vapor atomic absorption (CVAA) technique.
- Net Adsorption Rates (NARs) were calculated to assess material performance.
Main Results:
- Glass exhibited the lowest net adsorption rates (NARs) for mercury (0.026-1.13 pg/m2).
- Teflon and PVC showed moderate NARs (0.54 to 10.4 microg/M2), suitable for sampler construction.
- ABS demonstrated significantly higher mercury adsorption rates, rendering it unsuitable for mercury samplers.
Conclusions:
- Glass and Teflon are the preferred materials for developing atmospheric mercury dry deposition samplers due to minimal mercury interaction.
- Teflon and PVC are suitable alternatives, with specific sampling conditions needing consideration.
- Findings aid in optimizing field sampling protocols for atmospheric mercury.