A simplified method for levoglucosan quantification in wintertime atmospheric particulate matter by high performance anion-exchange chromatography coupled with pulsed amperometric detection

作者：Piazzalunga Andrea^*; Fermo Paola; Bernardoni Vera; Vecchi Roberta; Valli Gianluigi; De Gregorio Maria Antonietta

来源：International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 2010, 90(12): 934-947.

DOI：10.1080/03067310903023619

• atmospheric aerosol
• levoglucosan
• HPAEC-PAD
• anhydrosugars
• biomass burning

Levoglucosan, a tracer for the assessment of the biomass burning contribution to atmospheric particulate matter (PM) concentrations, was determined by means of high-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC) with pulsed amperometric detection (PAD). In this work we propose a modification in the instrumental set-up aiming at an improvement in the detector response by adding NaOH after chromatographic separation to increase the pH. The comparison between this technique and the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method commonly used showed good agreement. Repeatability is 4.8% RSD, limits of detection for pevoglucosan, mannosan and galactosan are in the range 0.001-0.002 mu g mL-1 in solution, corresponding to 3-4 ng m-3 for 24 m3 of air sampled. PM10 samples were characterised for levoglucosan and for organic and elemental carbon contents. The preliminary results reported here for five sites in the Lombardy region (Northern Italy) are, as far as we know, the first data on levoglucosan contribution to OC in Italy. The levoglucosan concentrations observed in Lombardy vary in the range 173-963 ng m-3 with an average levoglucosan-C to OC ratio ranging from 1.5% to 2.5%.

• 出版日期2010