Measuring atmospheric naphthalene with laser-induced fluorescence

• Main Authors: M. Martinez, H. Harder, X. Ren, R. L. Lesher, W. H. Brune
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2004-01-01
• Series: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
• Online Access: http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/563/2004/acp-4-563-2004.pdf

A new method for measuring gas-phase naphthalene in the atmosphere is based on laser-induced fluorescence at low pressure. The fluorescence spectrum of naphthalene near 308 nm was identified. Naphthalene fluorescence quenching by N<IMG WIDTH='10' HEIGHT='29' ALIGN='MIDDLE' BORDER='0' src='http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/563/2004/acp-4-563-img1.gif' ALT='$_{2}$'>, O<IMG WIDTH='10' HEIGHT='29' ALIGN='MIDDLE' BORDER='0' src='http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/563/2004/acp-4-563-img1.gif' ALT='$_{2}$'> and H<IMG WIDTH='10' HEIGHT='29' ALIGN='MIDDLE' BORDER='0' src='http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/563/2004/acp-4-563-img1.gif' ALT='$_{2}$'>O was investigated in the laboratory. No significant quenching was found for H<IMG WIDTH='10' HEIGHT='29' ALIGN='MIDDLE' BORDER='0' src='http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/563/2004/acp-4-563-img1.gif' ALT='$_{2}$'>O with mixing ratio up to 2.5%. The quenching rate of naphthalene fluorescence is (1.98<IMG WIDTH='15' HEIGHT='29' ALIGN='MIDDLE' BORDER='0' src='http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/563/2004/acp-4-563-img2.gif' ALT='$pm$'>0.18) <IMG WIDTH='15' HEIGHT='29' ALIGN='MIDDLE' BORDER='0' src='http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/563/2004/acp-4-563-img3.gif' ALT='$times$'>10<IMG WIDTH='26' HEIGHT='18' ALIGN='BOTTOM' BORDER='0' src='http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/563/2004/acp-4-563-img4.gif' ALT='$^{-11}$'>cm<IMG WIDTH='10' HEIGHT='18' ALIGN='BOTTOM' BORDER='0' src='http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/563/2004/acp-4-563-img5.gif' ALT='$^{3}$'>molecule<IMG WIDTH='20' HEIGHT='18' ALIGN='BOTTOM' BORDER='0' src='http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/563/2004/acp-4-563-img6.gif' ALT='$^{-1}$'>s<IMG WIDTH='20' HEIGHT='18' ALIGN='BOTTOM' BORDER='0' src='http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/563/2004/acp-4-563-img6.gif' ALT='$^{-1}$'> for N<IMG WIDTH='10' HEIGHT='29' ALIGN='MIDDLE' BORDER='0' src='http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/563/2004/acp-4-563-img1.gif' ALT='$_{2}$'>, and (2.48<IMG WIDTH='15' HEIGHT='29' ALIGN='MIDDLE' BORDER='0' src='http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/563/2004/acp-4-563-img2.gif' ALT='$pm$'>0.08)<IMG WIDTH='15' HEIGHT='29' ALIGN='MIDDLE' BORDER='0' src='http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/563/2004/acp-4-563-img3.gif' ALT='$times$'>10<IMG WIDTH='26' HEIGHT='18' ALIGN='BOTTOM' BORDER='0' src='http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/563/2004/acp-4-563-img7.gif' ALT='$^{-10}$'>cm<IMG WIDTH='10' HEIGHT='18' ALIGN='BOTTOM' BORDER='0' src='http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/563/2004/acp-4-563-img5.gif' ALT='$^{3}$'>molecule<IMG WIDTH='20' HEIGHT='18' ALIGN='BOTTOM' BORDER='0' src='http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/563/2004/acp-4-563-img6.gif' ALT='$^{-1}$'>s<IMG WIDTH='20' HEIGHT='18' ALIGN='BOTTOM' BORDER='0' src='http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/563/2004/acp-4-563-img6.gif' ALT='$^{-1}$'> for O<IMG WIDTH='10' HEIGHT='29' ALIGN='MIDDLE' BORDER='0' src='http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/563/2004/acp-4-563-img1.gif' ALT='$_{2}$'> at 297 K. Instrument calibrations were performed with a range of naphthalene mixing ratios between 5 and 80 parts per billion by volume (ppbv, 10<IMG WIDTH='26' HEIGHT='34' ALIGN='MIDDLE' BORDER='0' src='http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/563/2004/acp-4-563-img8.gif' ALT='$^{-9})$'>. In the current instrument configuration, the detection limit is estimated to be about 20 parts per trillion by volume (pptv, 10<IMG WIDTH='33' HEIGHT='34' ALIGN='MIDDLE' BORDER='0' src='http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/563/2004/acp-4-563-img9.gif' ALT='$^{-12})$'> with 2<IMG WIDTH='13' HEIGHT='13' ALIGN='BOTTOM' BORDER='0' src='http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/4/563/2004/acp-4-563-img10.gif' ALT='$sigma $'> confidence and a 1-min integration time. Measurements of atmospheric naphthalene in three cities, Nashville, TN, Houston, TX, and New York City, NY, are presented. Good correlation between naphthalene and major anthropogenic pollutants is found.