Quantitative Estimation of Sodium- and Ammonium-Nitrate, Ammonium Chloride, and Ammonium Sulfate in Ambient Particulate Matter

Abstract

In recent years the behavior of particulate nitrate has been of great concern with respect to gas-to-particle conversion in the atmosphere. The detailed structure of particulate nitrate collected on high volume sampling filters is evaluated on the basis of ammonium nitrate volatility. The filters were stored at room temperature without containers in a laboratory for 15 months and periodically analyzed for NO/sub 3//sup -/, NH/sub 4//sup +/, and SO/sub 4//sup - -/. Losses of NO/sub 3//sup -/ and NH/sub 4//sup +/ were observed while sulfate content did not change. The loss seemed to be almost complete after 15 months. 31 references, 3 figures.