Atmospheric Pollutants & Greenhouse Gases
From Column to Curb: Trusted Air Monitoring and Research
Air monitoring is not a single task. Measurements of the atmospheric column can track long-term trends of GHG variations, while In-situ methods capture rapid changes in greenhouse gases and pollutants at ground level. Particle analysis can study urban pollutants such as aerosols. Bruker delivers best-in-class performance for every application, supporting air monitoring programs and research ranging from the atmospheric column to the urban curb.
Our Solutions
Column Greenhouse Gas Measurements
Bruker’s solar absorption FT-IR spectrometers IFS 125HR and EM 27/SUN anchor global networks for climate-grade column measurements and regional monitoring.
- IFS 125HR delivers ultra-high spectral resolution (up to 0.0015 cm⁻¹), meeting the strict accuracy requirements of both TCCON (NIR: CO₂, CH₄, CO) and NDACC IRWG (MIR: O₃, N₂O, HCN, ClONO₂, and GHGs). The superior resolution of the IFS 125HR facilitates highly accurate gas quantification, which can be used to describe how gas concentrations change with height in the atmospheric column.
- EM 27/SUN is widely deployed globally, especially in COCCON, as a portable, rapid-deployment system. It can be used for measurements in remote areas, it supports mobile campaigns, and it enables both satellite validation and multi-unit city rings for emission rate quantification. EM 27/SUN also serves as a travel standard for calibrating IFS 125HR installations globally.
Both instruments feature camera-based solar trackers to maintain precise alignment for long-term trend analysis. Together, these instruments provide traceable, intercomparable column data for climate research, regulatory programs, and satellite verification. Their combined use accelerates network setup, supports campaign flexibility, and ensures high-quality measurements for both stationary observatories and mobile deployments.
High Precision, Multi Gas In Situ Analysis
MIRO’s mid-IR laser multi gas analyzers (MGA) provide precision in the parts-per-trillion (ppt) range, low drift, and 10-Hz acquisition for up to 10 gases measured by a single, compact unit. These analyzers are ideal for eddy covariance flux measurements, atmospheric chemistry studies, mobile laboratory applications, and aircraft deployments. Independent comparisons at reference air quality stations demonstrate perfect alignment with multiple conventional gas analyzers over periods of several weeks.
Since one MGA can measure multiple gas species simultaneously with high precision, it can replace up to seven conventional gas analyzers in certain deployments. The MGA reduces the footprint and complexity of system integration for GHG and air pollutant monitoring. It simplifies the instrumentation fleets and maintenance with a solution that provides high-quality data.
On-Site Particulate Matter and Heavy Metal Analysis
The in-situ analysis of the elemental composition of atmospheric pollutants at pg/m³ concentrations is possible using T-AERO, which combines direct aerosol sampling with Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence (TXRF) spectroscopy.
Designed for air quality monitoring in urban environments, at industrial sites, and by transport infrastructure, T-AERO facilitates the near real-time detection and monitoring of toxic metals and other contaminants. Sampling and quantitative analysis of heavy metals such as chromium, copper, nickel, arsenic, and lead can be completed by T-AERO in under one hour for multiple particulate fractions, including PM10, PM2.5, PM1, and PM0.15. Designed for portability and field readiness, the system includes a rugged ATA-certified transport case.
T-AERO has proven effectiveness in real-world air quality monitoring campaigns, as demonstrated by its deployment in initiatives such as MI-TRAP (Horizon Europe).
NEMS FT-IR for Ultrafine Aerosols & Nanoplastics
EMILIE is a nanoelectromechanical system-based Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (NEMS-FT-IR) analyzer. By combining the high sensitivity of NEMS with the wide spectral range of FT-IR spectrometers, NEMS-FT-IR offers a cost-efficient and cryogen-free option for the rapid routine analysis of environmental samples such as aerosols and nanoplastics.
The EMILIE chip allows direct collection of ultrafine aerosols (UFPs) down to ~10 nm. Organic functional-groups, ammonium sulfate, and equivalent black carbon can be evaluated directly from the NEMS-FT-IR spectra. Additionally, peaks normally obscured by Teflon (PTFE) filters in transmission-FT-IR are accessible in NEMS-FT-IR while the high sensitivity of the method allows orders of magnitude shorter sampling times.
Similarly, EMILIE can be used to identify nanoplastics such as polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinylchloride (PVC) dispersed in aqueous samples with picogram sensitivity. Compared to ATR-FT-IR, NEMS-FT-IR spectroscopy offers significantly higher sensitivity for the bulk chemical analysis of nanoplastics.
