Stability of organic nitrogen in NADP wet deposition samples

John T. Walker, Tracy L. Dombek, Lee A. Green, Nina Gartman, Christopher M.B. Lehmann

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Organic compounds represent an important yet largely uncharacterized component of atmospheric nitrogen deposition. Rapid progress in understanding the sources and spatiotemporal patterns of organic nitrogen (ON) deposition will require the use of existing large-scale monitoring infrastructure, such as the National Atmospheric Deposition Program's National Trends Network (NADP/NTN). The purpose of this study is to investigate the analytical and sampling requirements for adding ON measurements to the NTN, with specific interest in examining ON stability during sampling and storage. The analytical technique for total nitrogen (TN) used by the NADP's Central Analytical Laboratory (CAL) and associated quality assurance data are described. We then compare TN, inorganic nitrogen (IN = NH4+ + NO3-), and ON (ON = TN - IN) concentrations in a field study between standard weekly NADP/NTN samples (unrefrigerated during sampling and storage), daily event samples collected using the Atmospheric Integrated Research Monitoring Network protocol (AIRMoN, unrefrigerated during sampling but refrigerated during storage), and daily event samples that were preserved via refrigeration in the field upon collection (AIRMoN Ref, refrigerated during sampling and storage). Using AIRMoN Ref as the reference for comparison, total loss of ON in weekly NTN samples in the field and during laboratory storage is approximately 40%. This bias is likely dominated by losses of ON in the collection bucket. However, additional loss may occur during laboratory storage at room temperature prior to analysis. Loss of ON was also observed in AIRMoN samples, though differences relative to AIRMoN Ref (10.8%) were less than weekly NTN samples. Biases in ON are more consistently negative at higher ambient temperatures. Storage experiments indicated that refrigeration at 4 °C at the CAL was sufficient to stabilize ON concentrations. We conclude that weekly sampling for ON is feasible if precipitation is refrigerated or frozen immediately upon collection. Samples should be kept refrigerated or frozen prior to analysis. Preliminary results indicate that NO2-, an additional inorganic species not currently measured by the CAL, makes a small contribution to TN (<1%), but if neglected may cause significant negative bias in ON determined as TN - IN. We recommend that CAL include NO2- quantification as a component of IN for bulk ON determination.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)573-582
Number of pages10
JournalAtmospheric Environment
Volume60
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2012

Keywords

  • Critical loads
  • NADP
  • Nitrogen deposition
  • Organic nitrogen
  • Wet deposition

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Environmental Science
  • Atmospheric Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Stability of organic nitrogen in NADP wet deposition samples'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this