Application of direct thermal desorption gas chromatography and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time of flight mass spectrometry for analysis of organic compounds in ambient aerosol particles

Abstract. The current understanding of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation within biomass burning (BB) plumes is limited by the incomplete identification and quantification of the non-methane organic compounds (NMOCs) emitted from such fires. Gaseous organic compounds were collected on sorbent cartridges during laboratory burns as part of the fourth Fire Lab at Missoula Experiment (FLAME-4) and analyzed by two-dimensional gas chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC–ToFMS). The sensitivity and resolving power of GC × GC–ToFMS allowed the acquisition of the most extensive data set of BB NMOCs to date, with measurements for 708 positively or tentatively identified compounds. Estimated emission factors (EFs) are presented for these compounds for burns of six different vegetative fuels, including conifer branches, grasses, agricultural residue, and peat. The number of compounds meeting the peak selection criteria ranged from 129 to 474 among individual burns, and included extensive isomer groups. For example, 38 monoterpene isomers were observed in the emissions from coniferous fuels; the isomeric ratios were found to be consistent with those reported in relevant essential oils, suggesting that the composition of such oils may be very useful when predicting fuel-dependent terpene emissions. Further, 11 sesquiterpenes were detected and tentatively identified, providing the first reported speciation of sesquiterpenes in gas-phase BB emissions. The calculated EFs for all measured compounds are compared and discussed in the context of potential SOA formation.

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Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the forensic study of cadaveric volatile organic compounds released in soil by buried decaying pig carcasses

Journal of Chromatography A ◽

10.1016/j.chroma.2012.03.048 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 1255 ◽

pp. 163-170 ◽

Cited By ~ 55

Author(s):

Catherine Brasseur ◽

Jessica Dekeirsschieter ◽

Eline M.J. Schotsmans ◽

Sjaak de Koning ◽

Andrew S. Wilson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mass Spectrometry ◽

Gas Chromatography ◽

Volatile Organic Compounds ◽

Organic Compounds ◽

Time Of Flight ◽

Two Dimensional ◽

Flight Mass Spectrometry ◽

Volatile Organic ◽

Pig Carcasses

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Emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds from combustion of domestic fuels in Delhi, India

10.5194/acp-2020-892 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Gareth J. Stewart ◽

W. Joe F. Acton ◽

Beth S. Nelson ◽

Adam R. Vaughan ◽

James R. Hopkins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mass Spectrometry ◽

Gas Chromatography ◽

Volatile Organic Compounds ◽

Organic Compounds ◽

Time Of Flight ◽

Emission Factors ◽

Two Dimensional ◽

Flight Mass Spectrometry ◽

Volatile Organic ◽

Tof Ms

Abstract. 29 different fuel types used in residential dwellings in northern India were collected from across New Delhi (76 samples in total). Emission factors of a wide range of non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) (192 compounds in total) were measured during controlled burning experiments using dual-channel gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (DC-GD-FID), two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC-FID), proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS) and solid-phase extraction two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SPE-GC×GC-ToF-MS). 94 % quantification was achieved on average across all fuel types. The largest contributors to emissions from most fuel types were small non-aromatic oxygenated species, phenolics and furanics. The emission factors (in g kg−1) for total gas-phase NMVOCs were: fuel wood (18.7, 4.3–96.7), cow dung cake (62.0, 35.3–83.0), crop residue (37.9, 8.9–73.8), charcoal (5.4, 2.4–7.9), sawdust (72.4, 28.6–115.5), municipal solid waste (87.3, 56.6–119.1) and liquified petroleum gas (5.7, 1.9–9.8). The emission factors measured in this study allow for better characterisation, evaluation and understanding of the air quality impacts of residential solid fuel combustion in India.

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