A high-efficiency, low-bias method for extracting particulate matter from filter and impactor substrates

Atmospheric particles are frequently collected onto filter and impactor substrates for studies related to the composition, health effects and climate impact of ambient particulate matter (PM). Many of these studies require extraction of that PM from the substrates but available methods have low extr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Atmospheric environment (1994) Vol. 90; pp. 87 - 95
Main Authors: Bein, K.J., Wexler, A.S.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2014
Elsevier
Subjects:
aerosols
Air
atmospheric chemistry
Biological and medical sciences
California
Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases
climate
Environmental pollutants toxicology
Filter extractions
Filter sampling
filtration
Inorganic dusts (pneumoconiosises) and organic dusts (byssinosis etc.)
liquid-liquid extraction
Medical sciences
methodology
Particulate matter toxicity
particulates
Polyurethane foam substrates
solvents
Source-oriented sampling
toxicity
Toxicity bias
Toxicology
California
Particulate matter toxicity
Source-oriented sampling
Toxicity bias
Filter sampling
Polyurethane foam substrates
Filter extractions
Air content
Toxicity
Samplings
Cellular plastic
Concentration measurement
Suspended particle
Efficiency
Particulate matter
Polyurethane
Air pollution
Methodological bias
Extraction
Plastics
Sampling
Particle filter
ISSN:1352-2310, 1873-2844
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Atmospheric particles are frequently collected onto filter and impactor substrates for studies related to the composition, health effects and climate impact of ambient particulate matter (PM). Many of these studies require extraction of that PM from the substrates but available methods have low extraction efficiencies that may lead to compositional and thus toxicity bias. Here, novel PM extraction methods are presented that (a) maximize extraction efficiency, (b) minimize compositional biases in extracted PM, relative to sampled PM and (c) minimize extraction artifacts. Method development was based upon strengths and weaknesses of existing SOPs and current requirements in the field of aerosol health effects research. Extraction objectives were accomplished using a combination of sonication in solvents of varying polarity, selective filtration, liquid–liquid extraction of water-based extracts, solvent removal and final reconstitution of the total extracted PM. Relying largely on intensive gravimetric analyses and comparison to existing SOPs, the new technique has been fully validated on nearly 40 different size-segregated, source-oriented samples collected during two separate seasons in Fresno, CA. Compared to existing methods, and depending on the source, compositionally-specific increases in extraction efficiencies of 10–40% and 20–50% were obtained for the ultrafine and submicron fine PM fractions, respectively, indicating significant increases in total extraction efficiency and significant decreases in compositional bias. [Display omitted] •Novel PM extraction methods are presented that:•Maximize extraction efficiency and minimize artifacts and compositional biases.•Achieve 10–40% efficiency increase for ultrafine PM extracted from afterfilters.•Achieve 20–50% efficiency increase for submicron fine PM extracted from PUF.•Demonstrate that extraction efficiencies are compositionally, or source, specific.
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ISSN:1352-2310
1873-2844
DOI:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2014.03.042