Determination of nitrous acid in air using wet effluent diffusion denuder–FIA technique

A sensitive and fast method for the determination of nitrous acid (HONO) in air is described. The method combines a continuous collection of nitrous acid into a thin film of absorption liquid in a cylindrical wet effluent diffusion denuder (CWEDD) and on-line analysis of collected nitrous acid at the denuder concentrate employing a flow-injection analysis (FIA) where nitrous acid is oxidized into peroxynitrous acid and a chemiluminescent light emitted during the reaction of peroxynitrite with luminol is detected. Various absorption solutions (carbonate, bicarbonate, phosphate) as well as deionized water were compared from point of view of collection efficiency of nitrous acid at the CWEDD and selectivity and sensitivity of nitrous acid determination in air.All tested liquids provide quantitative collection of HONO in the CWEDD at the air flow rate of 1 L min−1. The detection limit of nitrous acid of 15 ppt (v/v) is the same for all tested liquids. Small positive interference of nitrogen dioxide and peroxyacetylnitrate has been found. The lowest interference of NO2 was found for 1 × 10−4 M NaHCO3 (pH 6.4; 0.18%) while for deionized water interference of NO2 (0.28%) was slightly higher. The lowest interference of peroxyacetylnitrate was found for deionized water (1.46%). No enhanced formation of HONO inside the cylindrical wet effluent diffusion denuder was observed for simultaneous bringing of nitrogen dioxide together with phenol, p-cresol, guaiacol, catechol, o-nitrophenol as well as with n-octane, n-nonane, n-decane, isoprene, α-pinene, β-pinene, camphene, 3-carene, α-phellandrene, S-limonene, benzene, toluene or o-xylene in comparison with formation of HONO only in the presence NO2.Deionized water was chosen as the optimum absorption liquid for the sampling of atmospheric nitrous acid at the CWEDD as well as for FIA chemiluminescent detection. The time resolution is 70 s and the response time is 164 s. The calibration curve is linear over 4 orders of magnitude (0.045–450 ppb HONO). The CWEDD–FIA technique has been applied to the measurement of nitrous acid in urban air.