Simultaneous determination of inorganic anions and selected organic acids in airborne particulate matter by ion chromatography

This paper reports a simple, selective, and sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of inorganic anions (fluoride, chloride, nitrite, nitrate, sulfate, phosphate and methanesulfonate) and organic anions (formate, acetate, pyruvate, glutarate, succinate, malonte, and oxalate) in particulate matter ( PM) by ion chromatography. The separation of 14 anions can be accomplished in 26 minutes with the procedure being validated by standard reference materials and a standard addition method. The method was then applied to PM sampled in Singapore during the infamous 1997 - 98 haze episode. The results showed considerably high concentrations of particulate-bound sulfate, formate, acetate, and oxalate in biomass-impacted air masses.