Evaluation of chemical methods for the determination of atmospheric ozone

Abstract

Since the concentration of the ozone in the atmosphere near the earth's surface is of the order of 10 gm. per gm. of air, the quantitative determination of this ozone by chemical methods is rather difficult. Therefore, the different methods have been evaluated to determine the best, all conceivable precautions being taken into account. The chemical methods may be classified into two groups --Titer Methods and Spectro-chemical Methods. Among the former, two; namely, the Thiosulphate and Arsenite Methods, have been proposed and used. For the low concentration of ozone in the atmosphere near the earth 's surface, the Thiosulphate Method is found to give unreliable results due to the instability of the thiosulphate solution as well as to various side reactions which could not be controlled. The arsenite solution, however, is much more stable than the thiosulphate solution. Side reactions are very few and can largely be controlled. Reliable results can be obtained by the Arsenite Method when employing proper precautions. The oxidants and other interfering substances in the atmosphere present serious problems. Some oxidants behave like ozone as far as the reactions with the chemical reagents are concerned. Their occurrence in the atmosphere and their effects on the chemical reagents used for the quantitative determination of the atmospheric ozone are discussed in detail. Suggestions are made for their elimination from the atmosphere without affecting the ozone concentration.