Comparison of techniques for measurement of ambient levels of hydrogen peroxide

A study was conducted to measure hydrogen peroxide from three sources: (1) zero air in the presence and absence of common interferences, (2) steady-state irradiations of hydrocarbon/NO/sub x/ mixtures, and (3) ambient air. The techniques employed for measuring H/sub 2/O/sub 2/ included infrared absorption from a diode laser, fluorescence from an enzymatically produced complex, and chemiluminescence from reaction with luminol. The measurements were conducted simultaneously from a common manifold. Four systems, each of which utilized one of the above techniques, were compared with respect to sensitivity, selectivity, and dynamic range in measuring H/sub 2/O/sub 2/ concentrations ranging from 0.062 to 128 ppbv. For pure samples measured in zero air, agreement of 14-23% was achieved when compared to standard values. In these examples, there was no indication of interferences for an H/sub 2/O/sub 2/ level of 6 ppbv except in the luminol technique where a negative interference was caused by SO/sub 2/. Agreement among techniques was much worse for measurement of H/sub 2/O/sub 2/ produced in the photochemical mixtures. In these mixtures, significant concentrations of organic peroxide were also measured by the enzymatic techniques.