Determination of the noble metals platinum, rhodium, and palladium in airborne particles

The widespread use of catalysts in motor vehicles has led to considerable i ncrease in platinum group elements (PGE: Pt, Rh, Pd) emitted into the envir onment. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for information about a po ssible accumulation of PGE in the environment, particularly in airborne dus t particles. A new simple method to determine the PGE in airborne particles is introduced. These particles are collected on glass fibre filters, preco ncentrated according to the nickel sulphide fire assay (docimasy) method, w hich includes the complete melting of the glass fibre filters in the reagen t mixture. Measurement is carried out on an ICP-MS. Sampling close to a hig hly frequented road in the city of Braunschweig, Germany, revealed the foll owing PGE concentrations in [pg/Nm(3)]: Pt: 6.0/Pd: 33.9/Rh: 1.2.