Quadrupole Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (Q-ACSM): Standard Operating Procedure

This document provides some recommendations for the use of quadrupole-type Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitors (Q-ACSM) developed by Aerodyne Research Inc. (ARI) for the measurement of the chemical composition of non-refractory submicron particles (NR-PM1), and more recently of nonrefractory particles with aerodynamic diameter below 2,5µm (NR-PM2.5).

It is intended to provide key information and good practice relating to operating parameters, maintenance frequencies, as well as data validation steps to be respected.

The reader is also strongly encouraged to refer to the manual supplied by the manufacturer and/or by the distributor for information about the operation of the instrument. 

These standard operating procedures were prepared based on documentation and information provided by ARI and its French distributor (ADDAIR) as well as the state of the scientific art and good practice shared in the context of the European Aerosol, Clouds and Trace gases Research InfraStructure (ACTRIS, www.actris.eu), the European COST Action CA16109 for Chemical On-Line cOmpoSition and Source Apportionment of fine aerosoL (COLOSSAL, www.costcolossal.eu), and feedback from ACSM operators within French regional monitoring networks.

Information provided herewith reflects consensual agreements reached within these research communities by the time the first version of the present document has been edited in May 2021. A revised version might bring additional and complementary information on a later stage.