Development of Novel Microchip CE-MS Platform for Organic Aerosol Characterization
EMSL Project ID
19831
Abstract
Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) has significant impact on global climate, visibility, and human health. Although organic compounds typically constitute 10-70% of the total dry fine particle mass, organic PM mass concentrations, composition, and formation mechanisms are not well understood. Particulate organic matter consists of hundreds of different compounds with wide range of chemical and thermodynamic properties. Therefore characterization of organic aerosols is a challenging task. No single analytical technique is capable of analyzing the entire spectrum of organics in ambient sampling. In addition, more than half of the organic carbon mass has not been identified yet. Lack of fundamental chemical and thermodynamic information of organics creates a major barrier that prevents detailed description of interactions among organic, inorganic aerosol compounds and water in most regional and global models. Consequently, it contributes to one of the biggest uncertainties in the treatment of aerosols in large-scale atmospheric models. The purpose of this program is to develop a path forward to improve our capabilities in atmospheric organic aerosol characterization. We propose development of a new analytical platform for on-line organic aerosol characterization, microchip capillary electrophoresis (CE) – mass spectrometry (MS). CE provides the first dimensional separation by electrophoretic mobility; MS detection adds the second dimensional analysis by structural and molecular determination. Combining forces, microchip CE-MS provides us with a new unique capability of molecular level organic aerosol characterization. This multidimensional technique will enable more unambiguous determination of organic aerosol composition especially for water soluble organics such as dicarboxylic acids, glyoxal, ketoacids, nitrophenol and amino acids.
Our team has the needed expertise in microchip CE fabrication, MS design, optimization and application, analytical method development, field campaign capabilities at multiple platforms including airborne and ground, as well as deployment of the state-of-the art on-line aerosol instrumentations. The EMSL staffs and facilities provide us with the ideal environment to conduct the proposed program. The expertise in field mission design and implementation from the Atmospheric Science and Global Change Division at FSD provide us with the best testing and application opportunity for the technique to be developed.
Development of novel microchip CE-MS analytical capability is pertinent to the EMSL science theme and mission. This new platform in organic aerosol characterization will not only enhance our scientific understanding of organic aerosol composition, concentration, and formation mechanisms, but also raise the leadership of EMSL in environmental sciences to a higher level with even more visibility.
Project Details
Project type
Large-Scale EMSL Research
Start Date
2006-08-30
End Date
2007-08-27
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members