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The use of cation exchange matrix separation coupled with ICP-MS to directly determine platinum group element (PGE) and other trace element emissions from passenger cars equipped with diesel particulate filters (DPF)

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Abstract

Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry coupled with cation exchange matrix separation has been optimised for the direct determination of platinum group element (PGE) and trace element emissions from a diesel engine car. After matrix separation method detection limits of 1.6 ng g−1 for Pd, 0.4 ng g−1 for Rh and 4.3 ng g−1 for Pt were achieved, the method was validated against the certified reference material BCR 723, urban road dust. The test vehicle was fitted with new and aged catalytic converters with and without diesel particulate filters (DPF). Samples were collected after three consecutive New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) of the particulate and “soluble” phases using a home-made sampler optimised for trace element analysis. Emission factors for the PGEs ranged from 0.021 ng km−1 for Rh to 70.5 ng km−1 for Pt; when a DPF was fitted, the emission factors for the PGEs actually used in the catalysts dropped by up to 97% (for Pt). Trace element emission factors were found to drop by a maximum of 92% for Ni to a minimum of 18% for Y when a DPF was fitted; a new DPF was also found to cause a reduction of up to 86% in the emission of particulate matter.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Italian Ministry of Instruction, University and Research (MIUR) for funding the PhD of Antonella De Boni through the 2004 Fund for Young Researchers on the topic: Innovative Chemical Processes. We would also like to thank The French Environment and Energy Control Agency, ADEME (Agence de l'Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l' Energie), for financing this work. The authors also gratefully acknowledge the help of ELGA LabWater in providing the PURELAB Option-R and Ultra Analytic, which produced the ultra-pure water used in these experiments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for the Dynamics of Environmental Processes-CNR, Dorsoduro, 30123, Venice, Italy

    Warren R. L. Cairns, Giulio Cozzi, Paolo Cescon & Carlo Barbante

  2. Department of Environmental Science, University of Venice, Dorsoduro, 30123, Venice, Italy

    Antonella De Boni, Paolo Cescon, Jacopo Gabrieli & Carlo Barbante

  3. Centro Ricerche Fiat, Strada Torino, 10043, Orbassano (TO), Italy

    Massimo Asti, Edoardo Merlone Borla & Flavio Parussa

  4. FIAT Powertrain Technologies S.p.A, Strada del Drosso 145, 10135, Turin, Italy

    Ezio Moretto

  5. Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Géophysique de l′Environnement, UMR CNRS 5183, B.P. 96, 38402, Saint Martin d′Hères Cedex, France

    Claude Boutron

Authors
  1. Warren R. L. Cairns
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  2. Antonella De Boni
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  3. Giulio Cozzi
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  4. Massimo Asti
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  5. Edoardo Merlone Borla
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  7. Ezio Moretto
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  8. Paolo Cescon
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  9. Claude Boutron
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  10. Jacopo Gabrieli
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  11. Carlo Barbante
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Correspondence to Carlo Barbante.

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Published in the special issue on Advances in Analytical Mass Spectrometry with Guest Editor Maria Careri.

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Cairns, W.R.L., De Boni, A., Cozzi, G. et al. The use of cation exchange matrix separation coupled with ICP-MS to directly determine platinum group element (PGE) and other trace element emissions from passenger cars equipped with diesel particulate filters (DPF). Anal Bioanal Chem 399, 2731–2740 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-010-4596-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-010-4596-5

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