On-line collection/concentration and detection of sulfur dioxide in air by flow-injection spectrophotometry coupled with a chromatomembrane cell

A simple and rapid procedure for SO2 determination in air was developed by using a flow injection analysis (FIA) system coupled with a 3-hole chromatomembrane cell (CMC). The CMC was applied for the on-line collection/concentration of SO2 from air into a solution of 2 g l(-1) triethanolamine (TEA) solution as an absorbing solution: SO2 was converted to SO32- in the alkaline absorbing solution. The solution containing absorbed SO2 was introduced into the carrier stream of the FIA system. The amount of SO32- in the absorbing solution was measured by spectrophotometry with a mixed reagent of pararosaniline and formaldehyde, and was converted to the concentration of SO2 in the air sample. A calibration graph prepared by using standard sodium sulfite aqueous solutions was adopted for the determination of SO32- in the absorbing solution. The SO2 concentration in indoor air examined was found to be 22.7 +/- 0.2 ppbv using 20 ml of air sample with the air flow rate of 5 ml min(-1), where the relative standard deviation was 1.7%. The detection limit for aqueous solutions and air samples were 6.9 x 10(-8) M and 0.48 ppbv, respectively. The measuring time for one sample was about 10 min when a 20 ml air sample was used. The interferences from common anionic species, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, were also examined.