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Measurement of PAN in the Polluted Boundary Layer and Free Troposphere Using a Luminol-NO2 Detector Combined with a Thermal Converter

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Abstract

Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN,CH3C(O)O2NO2) has been measured inthe polluted boundary layer and free troposphere by thermal conversion tonitrogen dioxide (NO2) followed by detection of thedecomposition product with a Scintrex LMA-3 NO2-luminolinstrument. Following laboratory tests of the efficiency of PAN conversionand investigations of possible interferences, the technique was evaluated atthe West Beckham TOR (Tropospheric Ozone Research) Station near the northNorfolk coast in Eastern England between September 1989 and August 1990. PANmeasured by the new technique was reasonably well correlated with PANrecorded using electron capture gas chromatography (EC/GC). PAN was alsowell correlated with ozone (O3) in the summer months. Springand autumn episodes of simultaneously high concentrations of PAN andO3 were examined in conjunction with air parcelback-trajectories and synoptic- and local-scale meteorology in a study ofthe sources of photooxidants on the east coast of England. Spring-timemeasurements of PAN made in the free troposphere in a light aircraft ataltitudes up to 3.1 km showed the presence of 0.54 and 0.26 ppbv PAN inpolar maritime and mid-latitude oceanic air masses, respectively. Thetechnique is particularly suited to airborne applications because potentialinterferences are minimised and the frequency of measurements is higher thangenerally achieved with EC/GC methods.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, U.K

    Chloe Nikitas, Kevin C. Clemitshaw, David E. Oram & Stuart a. Penkett

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  1. Chloe Nikitas
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  2. Kevin C. Clemitshaw
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  3. David E. Oram
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  4. Stuart a. Penkett
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Nikitas, C., Clemitshaw, K.C., Oram, D.E. et al. Measurement of PAN in the Polluted Boundary Layer and Free Troposphere Using a Luminol-NO2 Detector Combined with a Thermal Converter. Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry 28, 339–359 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005898017520

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