Optimum quantification temperature for total, organic, and elemental carbon using thermal-coulombimetric analysis

Abstract The quantification of total (TC), organic (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and OC/TC, EC/TC ratios is useful to determine the original sources of carbonaceous particles, so the importance of using appropriate standards is often crucial in atmospheric sciences, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) offers good analytes. The Standard Reference Material (SRM) Urban Particulate Matter has a similar matrix as in the airborne aerosols of urban atmospheres and a well-known composition. The optimum quantification temperature analysis for carbon content of SRM 1648a and 1649b using a coulometric method (CM5300 and CM5014) is 500 °C for OC and 700 °C for TC. We also evaluated the repeatability and reproducibility provided by the instrument. It should be pointed out that SRM 1649b has no OC or TC quantification in its Certificate of Analysis, so this study may serve as a basis for future analysis of carbon content of atmospheric aerosols.