CEN/TC 264/WG 34 - Standard method for measurement of NO3, SO42-, CL-, NH4+, Na+, K+, MG2+ and Ca2+ deposited on filters

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of the mass concentration of water soluble NO3- (nitrate), SO42- (sulphate), Cl- (chloride), NH4+ (ammonium), Na+ (sodium), K+ (potassium), Mg2+ (magnesium), Ca2+ (calcium) in PM2,5 as deposited on filters.
This European Standard describes the analytical procedures for determining anions and cations as part of the PM2,5 particulate phase, sample extraction and analysis of anions and cations by ion chromatography. Sampling onto filters will be done in accordance with EN 12341 for PM2,5.
NOTE 1   Alternatively, cations, excluding ammonium, can be analysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Ammonium can also be analysed by photometry or conductometry.
This European Standard can be used for the measurements of anions and cations as required by Directive 2008/50/EC. The method does not take into account the possible losses during sampling due to evaporation.
NOTE 2   NO3-, Cl-, NH4+ are part of the volatile fraction of PM2,5, and the concentrations determined using this standard can be used as minimum values for the concentrations of these ions in PM2,5. NO3-, NH4+, Cl- are usually up to 30 % underestimated due to evaporational losses from the filter during sampling.
This European Standard may be used at rural and urban background sites and road sites that are in accordance with the siting criteria of Directive 2008/50/EC.
This European Standard is applicable to the measurement of anion/cations in PM2,5 samples corresponding to PM2,5 mass concentrations between approximately 1 μg/m3 (i.e. the limit of detection of the standard measurement method (EN 12341) expressed as its uncertainty) up to 120 μg/m3.
The validated range of the anion and cation concentrations based on the field validation measurements is presented in Table 1.
(...)
See Annex A for the statistical analysis of the field validation measurements.

This CEN Technical Report specifies a method for the determination of the mass of water soluble  NO3-, SO42-, Cl-, NH4+, Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+ in PM2,5 samples which can be used to comply with Directive 2008/50/EC.
This CEN Technical Report describes a measurement method which comprises sampling of anions and cations as part of the PM2,5 particulate phase, sample extraction and analysis of anions and cations by ion chromatography. Alternately, cations, excluding ammonium can be analysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES).
This CEN Technical Report may be used at rural background monitoring sites that are in accordance with the requirements of Directive 2008/50/EC. However, since this CEN Technical Report has not been validated in the field for these, or any other, monitoring site types, it may be considered equally applicable to all site types.
NOTE   The detection limits described in this CEN technical report method will be limited by the noise level of the detector and the variability of the mass in laboratory blank filters rather than by the concentrations of anions and cations in ambient air.