A new collector for sampling volcanic aerosols

A new apparatus, Venturi Effect System (VES), designed for sampling volcanic plumes is described and tested at Vulcano (Italy). This device, together with purified basic NH4OH solutions, supplies optimal conditions to obtain reliable Stotal/Cl/F ratios and enrichment factors for metallic trace elements (MTE). Good concordance for acid gas ratios and metal enrichment factors in both the gas phase and the related plume allows the procedure to be validated. The VES appears in Vulcano conditions as a simple, robust and easily portable apparatus that allows reliable collection of both acid gases and MTE within a single sample and the analysis with current chemical methods (High Pressure Liquid Chromatography, Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry). This apparatus may be suitable for more difficult volcanoes where only the plume can be sampled.