Measuring atmospheric naphthalene with laser-induced fluorescence

Martinez, M.; Harder, H.; Ren, X.; Lesher, R. L.; Brune, W. H.

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-4-563-2004

Articles | Volume 4, issue 2

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-4-563-2004

© Author(s) 2004. This work is licensed under
the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-4-563-2004

© Author(s) 2004. This work is licensed under
the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License.

Articles | Volume 4, issue 2

04 Apr 2004

| 04 Apr 2004

Measuring atmospheric naphthalene with laser-induced fluorescence

M. Martinez, H. Harder, X. Ren, R. L. Lesher, and W. H. Brune

Abstract. 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 $_{2}$ , O $_{2}$ and H $_{2}$ O was investigated in the laboratory. No significant quenching was found for H $_{2}$ O with mixing ratio up to 2.5%. The quenching rate of naphthalene fluorescence is (1.980.18) 10 $^{-11}$ cm $^{3}$ molecule $^{-1}$ s $^{-1}$ for N $_{2}$ , and (2.480.08)10 $^{-10}$ cm $^{3}$ molecule $^{-1}$ s $^{-1}$ for O $_{2}$ 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 $^{-9})$ . In the current instrument configuration, the detection limit is estimated to be about 20 parts per trillion by volume (pptv, 10 $^{-12})$ with 2 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.