Study of Aldehyde Analysis in Flue Gas Using HPLC-HRMS

Aldehydes are among the major air pollutants due to their contribution to photochemical smog, health hazards, and odor. However, few studies have examined aldehyde concentration levels in flue gas, and only a limited number of substances have established emission limits. In this study, a method for the analysis of 14 aldehydes using HPLC-HRMS was optimized, and aldehyde concentrations in flue gas were measured. The optimized method for target substance qualification and quantification demonstrated linearity within a calibration range of 5-100 ng/mL, recoveries of 84-104 %, and precision ranging from 1-9 %. The method detection limit(MDL) for each compound ranged from 0.067-0.377 ng/mL, and the limit of quantification(LOQ) ranged from 0.212-1.202 ng/mL. In the flue gas samples, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were detected in all stacks, but their concentrations remained within emission limits. However, many substances without established emission limits were also detected, with detection patterns varying by workplace. It appears necessary to characterize workplace types and implement tailored management strategies. The data collected in this study on aldehyde emissions in flue gas can support the identification of workplace-specific characteristics and the establishment of management standards.