Towards Complete Characterization of Volatile and Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds of Relevance for Atmospheric Aerosol Formation
EMSL Project ID
48627
Abstract
Atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has long been linked to deleterious health effects and to radiative climate forcing. A significant mass fraction of PM2.5 is composed of organic compounds that are either emitted in particles (primary) or condense into particles following chemical transformations in the atmosphere (secondary). The latter category of organic PM2.5, "secondary organic aerosol" or "SOA", continues to grow in scientific interest with the recognition that organic PM2.5 is largely, and in some cases entirely, of secondary origin. The ability to predict ambient levels of SOA, and thus PM2.5, is limited in large part by the relatively poor identification and quantification of the compounds that contribute to SOA formation. Here we propose application of two-dimensional gas- and liquid-chromatography for the determination of biogenic organic compounds that contribute to SOA formation, with the ultimate goal of improving air quality and climate predictions. The proposed research leverages our demonstrated expertise in two-dimensional gas chromatography and relies on well-established EMSL capabilities, while expanding their application to climate-relevant fundamental aerosol research. This collaborative effort will transform our molecular-level understanding of the biogenic organic compounds that form ambient SOA, facilitating predictive representation of organic aerosols in air quality and climate models.
Project Details
Project type
Exploratory Research
Start Date
2014-11-11
End Date
2015-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator