Development of a GC-MS Organic Aerosol Monitor (OAM) for In-Field Detection of Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds
Oral Presentation
Prepared by P. Cropper1, R. Cary2, J. Hansen1, D. Eatough1
1 - Brigham Young University, C-100 BNSN, Dept of Chemistry, BYU, Provo, UT, 84602, United States
2 - Sunset Laboratory, 10180 SW Nimbus Avenue Suite J/5, Tigard, OR, 97223, United States
Contact Information: [email protected]; 801-687-5164
ABSTRACT
Particulate matter (PM) is among the most harmful air pollutants to human health, but due to its complex chemical composition it is poorly understood. A large fraction of PM is composed of organic compounds, but these compounds are not regularly monitored due to limitations of current sampling techniques. An Organic Aerosol Monitor (OAM) capable of quantitatively measuring the semi-volatile components of PM on an hourly averaged basis has been build, automated, and successfully deployed in the field. The OAM uses a filter collection hermal desorption system integrated with a miniaturized GC-MS to return hourly averaged concentrations of semi-volatile organic markers such as levoglucosan, dehydroabietic acid, stearic acid, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and potentially many more. The limit of detection ranges from low nanograms to the sub-nanogram level depending on the compound of interest. The instruments capability has been tested in several field studies, including: 1) A road side study situated next to the Long Beach 710 freeway (Long Beach, CA, USA), and 2) several field studies carried out in Provo, Utah, on Brigham Young University campus. Results illustrate the significance of this monitoring technique to both relate pollution to specific primary emission sources and further our understanding of secondary pollutants present in the atmosphere.
Oral Presentation
Prepared by P. Cropper1, R. Cary2, J. Hansen1, D. Eatough1
1 - Brigham Young University, C-100 BNSN, Dept of Chemistry, BYU, Provo, UT, 84602, United States
2 - Sunset Laboratory, 10180 SW Nimbus Avenue Suite J/5, Tigard, OR, 97223, United States
Contact Information: [email protected]; 801-687-5164
ABSTRACT
Particulate matter (PM) is among the most harmful air pollutants to human health, but due to its complex chemical composition it is poorly understood. A large fraction of PM is composed of organic compounds, but these compounds are not regularly monitored due to limitations of current sampling techniques. An Organic Aerosol Monitor (OAM) capable of quantitatively measuring the semi-volatile components of PM on an hourly averaged basis has been build, automated, and successfully deployed in the field. The OAM uses a filter collection hermal desorption system integrated with a miniaturized GC-MS to return hourly averaged concentrations of semi-volatile organic markers such as levoglucosan, dehydroabietic acid, stearic acid, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and potentially many more. The limit of detection ranges from low nanograms to the sub-nanogram level depending on the compound of interest. The instruments capability has been tested in several field studies, including: 1) A road side study situated next to the Long Beach 710 freeway (Long Beach, CA, USA), and 2) several field studies carried out in Provo, Utah, on Brigham Young University campus. Results illustrate the significance of this monitoring technique to both relate pollution to specific primary emission sources and further our understanding of secondary pollutants present in the atmosphere.
