Methods of Collecting and Separating Atmospheric Organic Aerosols for Analysis Using Two-Dimensional Gas and Liquid Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry

Methods of Collecting and Separating Atmospheric Organic Aerosols for Analysis Using Two-Dimensional Gas and Liquid Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 30
Release: 2015
Genre: Atmospheric aerosols
ISBN:

In the atmosphere, biogenic and anthropogenic emissions are oxidized to form secondary organic aerosols (SOA); however, the identities and concentrations of the compounds formed are inadequately known. In this work an aerosol (gas+particle) collection system was designed and tested in order to more fully characterize atmospheric volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) that contribute to SOA. Target compounds to be collected were C6 to C20 compounds with oxygenated functional groups such as aldehydes and alcohols. The collection system was designed to allow characterization of atmospheric aerosols using multiple analytical methods: two-dimensional gas chromatography with time of flight-mass spectrometry (GCxGC-TOFMS), with and without derivatization, and two- dimensional liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LCxLC-MS). The first stage of collection in the system uses a polytetrafluoroethelyne (PTFE) filter to capture the low volatility compounds in the particle phase. The flow is then split for two different collection mechanisms: adsorption thermal desorption (ATD) cartridges for gas phase VOCs, and solid phase extraction (SPE) filters for SVOCs. In order to test the viability of aerosol collection on PTFE filters and subsequent analysis using derivatization, four aerosol samples were collected on PTFE filters at Reed College. The average mass collected over 4 trials was 10.15 [microgram]. The U.S. Department of Energy Environmental and Molecular Science Lab (EMSL) performed extraction and derivatization on the Reed College samples, followed by GC-MS. Results show identifiable peaks that are significantly different than the filter blanks, suggesting that derivatization methods can be used to facilitate identification of relatively polar organic compounds sampled onto PTFE filters. Additional aerosol collection trials were conducted at Portland State University (PSU) using two SPE filters in series to collect gases and particles from tobacco smoke. A literature review was conducted to determine the type of SPE filter, time, and necessary flow rates to collect an optimum amount of sample for analysis. The tobacco smoke PM mass collected was 6mg/2mg and 2mg/0.9mg for trials one and two, respectively (front/back filter). PSU tobacco smoke samples were analyzed at EMSL using GC-MS with derivatization. Results showed successful collection of polar compounds in the semi-volatile range of interest, including alcohols, aldehydes, and phenols. Next steps of this research include collecting aerosol samples with the whole system (PTFE + ATD + SPE) and subsequent analysis of samples using GCxGC-TOFMS, with and without derivatization, and LCxLC-MS. Results to date suggest a more complete characterization of atmospheric organic aerosols can be attained using multiple offline analyses. Further characterization of atmospheric organic aerosols is necessary to improve air quality and climate modeling and develop efficient air quality and climate change mitigation technologies.

Thermally Evolved & Separated Composition of Atmospheric Aerosols

Thermally Evolved & Separated Composition of Atmospheric Aerosols
Author: Yaping Zhang
Publisher:
Total Pages: 207
Release: 2015
Genre: Electronic dissertations
ISBN:

Atmospheric organic aerosols are composed of thousands of individual compounds, interacting with climate through changes in aerosol optical properties and cloud interactions, and can be detrimental to human health. Aerosol mass spectrometry (MS) and gas chromatography (GC)-separated MS measurements have been utilized to better characterize the chemical composition of this material that comes from a variety of sources and experiences continuous oxidation while in the atmosphere. This dissertation describes the development of a novel rapid data analysis method for grouping of major components within chromatography-separated measurements and first application using thermal desorption aerosol gas chromatograph (TAG) -- MS data. Chromatograms are binned and inserted directly into a positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis to determine major contributing components, eliminating the need for manual compound integrations of hundreds of resolved molecules, and incorporating the entirety of the eluting MS signal, including Unresolved Complex Mixtures (UCM) and decomposition products that are often ignored in traditional GC-MS analysis. Binned GC-MS data has three dimensions: (1) mass spectra index m/z, (2) bin number, and (3) sample number. PMF output is composed of two dimensions; factor profiles and factor time series. The specific arrangement of the input data (three dimensions of variation structured as a two dimensional matrix) in a two dimensional PMF analysis affects the structure of the PMF profiles and time series output. If mass spectra index is in the profile dimension, and bin number and sample number are in the time series dimension, PMF groups components into factors with similar mass spectra, such as major contributing individual compounds, UCM with similar functional composition, and homologous compound series. This type of PMF analysis is described as the binning method for chromatogram deconvolution, and is presented in Chapter 2. If the sample number is in the time series dimension, and the bin number and mass spectra index, arranged as mass spectra resolved retention time/chromatogram (bin number), are in the profile dimension, PMF groups components with similar time series trends. This type of PMF analysis is described as binning method for source apportionment, and is described in Chapter 3. The binning methods are compared to traditional compound integration methods using previously-collected hourly ambient samples from Riverside, CA during the 2005 Study of Organic Aerosols at Riverside (SOAR) field campaign, as discussed in Chapters 2-3. Further application of the binning method for source apportionment is performed on newly acquired hourly TAG data from East St. Louis, IL, operated as part of the 2013 St. Louis Air Quality Regional Study (SLAQRS). Major sources of biogenic secondary organic aerosol (SOA), anthropogenic primary organic aerosol (POA) were identified, as described in detail in Chapter 4. Finally, our PMF separation method was tested for reliability using primary and secondary sources in a controlled laboratory system. As shown in Chapter 5, we find that for application of PMF on receptor measurements, high signal intensity and unique measurement profiles, like those found in TAG chromatograms, are keys to successful source apportionment. The binning method with component separation by PMF may be a valuable analysis technique for other complex data sets that incorporate measurements (e.g., mass spectrometry, spectroscopy, etc.) with additional separations (e.g., volatility, hygroscopicity, electrical mobility, etc.).

Analytical Techniques for Atmospheric Measurement

Analytical Techniques for Atmospheric Measurement
Author: Dwayne Heard
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 528
Release: 2008-04-15
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1405171448

Almost all of the breakthroughs in understanding the atmospherehave been initiated by field observations, using a range ofinstrumental techniques. Developing or deploying instruments tomake further observations demands a thorough understanding of thechemical and spectroscopic principles on which such measurementsdepend. Written as an authoritative guide to the techniques of instrumentalmeasurement for the atmospheric scientist, research student orundergraduate, Analytical Techniques for Atmospheric Measurementfocuses on the instruments used to make real time measurements ofatmospheric gas and aerosol composition. Topics covered include howthey work, their strengths and weaknesses for a particular task,the platforms on which they have been deployed and how they arecalibrated. It explains the fundamental principles upon which theinstrumental techniques are based (ie what property of a moleculecan be exploited to enable its detection), what limits instrumentalsensitivity and accuracy, and the information that can be gainedfrom their use.

Air Quality Monitoring, Assessment and Management

Air Quality Monitoring, Assessment and Management
Author: Nicolas Mazzeo
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
Total Pages: 394
Release: 2011-07-08
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9533073179

Human beings need to breathe oxygen diluted in certain quantity of inert gas for living. In the atmosphere, there is a gas mixture of, mainly, oxygen and nitrogen, in appropriate proportions. However, the air also contains other gases, vapours and aerosols that humans incorporate when breathing and whose composition and concentration vary spatially. Some of these are physiologically inert. Air pollution has become a problem of major concern in the last few decades as it has caused negative effects on human health, nature and properties. This book presents the results of research studies carried out by international researchers in seventeen chapters which can be grouped into two main sections: a) air quality monitoring and b) air quality assessment and management, and serves as a source of material for all those involved in the field, whether as a student, scientific researcher, industrialist, consultant, or government agency with responsibility in this area.

Volatile Organic Compounds in the Atmosphere

Volatile Organic Compounds in the Atmosphere
Author: R M Harrison
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
Total Pages: 156
Release: 2007-10-31
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1847552315

Interest in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as air pollutants has increased dramatically in recent years. This book covers a number of very topical issues concerning VOCs, including stratospheric ozone depletion due to CFCs, and the properties of alternative substances; the role of VOCs in the photochemical formation of lower atmosphere (tropospheric) ozone; and the problem of the direct toxicity of VOCs such as benzene and formaldehyde. This Issue reviews our current knowledge of VOCs, drawing upon the expertise of renowned experts and major national and international research programmes. It examines man-made and natural sources, as well as pathways and chemical reactions in the atmosphere. It also looks closely at the sources and concentrations of VOCs indoors, where humans are most likely to be exposed to them. Volatile Organic Compounds in the Atmosphere describes techniques used for the calculation of emissions inventories and strategies for control, and explores the many Government policy matters relating to VOCs. It provides readers with in-depth, clearly explained coverage of the many complex scientific and policy issues surrounding VOCs in the atmosphere.

Analytical Chemistry of Aerosols

Analytical Chemistry of Aerosols
Author: Kvetoslav R. Spurny
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 504
Release: 1999-04-23
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9781566700405

Until the 1980s, researchers studied and measured only the physical properties of aerosols. Since the 80s, however, interest in the physicochemcal properties of aerosols has grown tremendously. Scientists in environmental hygiene, medicine, and toxicology have recognized the importance held by the chemical composition and properties of aerosols and the interactions of inhaled, "bad" aerosols. This book offers the first comprehensive treatment of modern aerosol analytical methods, sampling and separation procedures, and environmental applications, and offers critical reviews of the latest literature. This important field has developed rapidly in the last 15 years, but until now, no book effectively summarized or analyzed the existing research. Analytical Chemistry of Aerosols reviews procedures, techniques, and trends in the measurement and analysis of atmospheric aerosols. With contributions from acknowledged, international experts, the book discusses various methods of bulk analysis, single particle analysis, and the analysis of special aerosol systems, including fibrous and bacterial aerosols.