Volatile organic compounds in urban and industrial atmospheres: measurement techniques and data analysis

Abstract. The molecular composition and volatility of gaseous organic compounds were investigated during April–July 2019 at the Station for Measuring Ecosystem – Atmosphere Relations (SMEAR) II situated in a boreal forest in Hyytiälä, southern Finland. A Vocus proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer (Vocus PTR-ToF; hereafter Vocus) was deployed to measure volatile organic compounds (VOC) and less oxygenated VOC (i.e., OVOC). In addition, a multi-scheme chemical ionization inlet coupled to an atmospheric pressure interface time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MION APi-ToF) was used to detect less oxygenated VOC (using Br− as the reagent ion; hereafter MION-Br) and more oxygenated VOC (including highly oxygenated organic molecules, HOM; using NO3− as the reagent ion; hereafter MION-NO3). The comparison among different measurement techniques revealed that the highest elemental oxygen-to-carbon ratios (O : C) of organic compounds were observed by the MION-NO3 (0.9 ± 0.1, average ± 1 standard deviation), followed by the MION-Br (0.8 ± 0.1); and lowest by Vocus (0.2 ± 0.1). Diurnal patterns of the measured organic compounds were found to vary among different measurement techniques, even for compounds with the same molecular formula, suggesting contributions of different isomers detected by the different techniques and/or fragmentation from different parent compounds inside the instruments. Based on the complementary molecular information obtained from Vocus, MION-Br, and MION-NO3, a more complete picture of the bulk volatility of all measured organic compounds in this boreal forest was obtained. As expected, the VOC class was the most abundant (about 49.4 %), followed by intermediate-volatility organic compounds (IVOC, about 48.9 %). Although condensable organic compounds (low-volatility organic compounds, LVOC; extremely low-volatility organic compounds, ELVOC; and ultralow-volatility organic compounds, ULVOC) only comprised about 0.3 % of the total gaseous organic compounds, they play an important role in new particle formation as shown in previous studies in this boreal forest. Our study shows the full characterization of the gaseous organic compounds in the boreal forest and the advantages of combining Vocus and MION APi-ToF for measuring ambient organic compounds with different oxidation extent (from VOC to HOM). The results therefore provide a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular composition and volatility of atmospheric organic compounds as well as new insights in interpreting ambient measurements or testing/improving parameterizations in transport and climate models.

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Active Atmosphere-Ecosystem Exchange of the Vast Majority of Detected Volatile Organic Compounds

Science ◽

10.1126/science.1235053 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 341 (6146) ◽

pp. 643-647 ◽

Cited By ~ 138

Author(s):

J.-H. Park ◽

A. H. Goldstein ◽

J. Timkovsky ◽

S. Fares ◽

R. Weber ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Volatile Organic Compounds ◽

Organic Compounds ◽

Climate Models ◽

Critical Role ◽

Measurement Techniques ◽

Global Climate Models ◽

Tropospheric Chemistry ◽

High Mass ◽

Eddy Covariance Method ◽

Volatile Organic

Numerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) exist in Earth’s atmosphere, most of which originate from biogenic emissions. Despite VOCs’ critical role in tropospheric chemistry, studies for evaluating their atmosphere-ecosystem exchange (emission and deposition) have been limited to a few dominant compounds owing to a lack of appropriate measurement techniques. Using a high–mass resolution proton transfer reaction–time of flight–mass spectrometer and an absolute value eddy-covariance method, we directly measured 186 organic ions with net deposition, and 494 that have bidirectional flux. This observation of active atmosphere-ecosystem exchange of the vast majority of detected VOCs poses a challenge to current emission, air quality, and global climate models, which do not account for this extremely large range of compounds. This observation also provides new insight for understanding the atmospheric VOC budget.

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Pollution data analysis and characteristics of volatile organic compounds in the environment

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/20183801004 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 38 ◽

pp. 01004

Author(s):

Qi Wang ◽

Chēn Wang ◽

Lujian Hou ◽

Bo Lv ◽

Chén WANG

Keyword(s):

Data Analysis ◽

Volatile Organic Compounds ◽

Organic Compounds ◽

Atmospheric Chemistry ◽

Ecological Environment ◽

Ozone Formation ◽

Wide Range ◽

Ozone Formation Potential ◽

Volatile Organic

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have a wide range of sources and have a significant impact on the ecological environment and human health, which have attracted wide attention of many researchers. In this paper, the pollution characteristics of VOCs, the role of VOCs in atmospheric chemistry including OH reaction reactivity (LOH), Ozone Formation Potential (OFP) and SOA generation potential (SOAP), VOCs source apportionment were discussed and reviewed.

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Measurement report: Molecular composition and volatility of gaseous organic compounds in a boreal forest – from volatile organic compounds to highly oxygenated organic molecules

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-21-8961-2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (11) ◽

pp. 8961-8977

Author(s):

Wei Huang ◽

Haiyan Li ◽

Nina Sarnela ◽

Liine Heikkinen ◽

Yee Jun Tham ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Volatile Organic Compounds ◽

Boreal Forest ◽

Organic Compounds ◽

Mass Spectrometer ◽

Organic Molecules ◽

Measurement Techniques ◽

Time Of Flight ◽

Molecular Composition ◽

Complete Picture ◽

Volatile Organic

Abstract. The molecular composition and volatility of gaseous organic compounds were investigated during April–July 2019 at the Station for Measuring Ecosystem – Atmosphere Relations (SMEAR) II situated in a boreal forest in Hyytiälä, southern Finland. In order to obtain a more complete picture and full understanding of the molecular composition and volatility of ambient gaseous organic compounds (from volatile organic compounds, VOCs, to highly oxygenated organic molecules, HOMs), two different instruments were used. A Vocus proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer (Vocus PTR-ToF; hereafter Vocus) was deployed to measure VOCs and less oxygenated VOCs (i.e., OVOCs). In addition, a multi-scheme chemical ionization inlet coupled to an atmospheric pressure interface time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MION API-ToF) was used to detect less oxygenated VOCs (using Br− as the reagent ion; hereafter MION-Br) and more oxygenated VOCs (including HOMs; using NO3- as the reagent ion; hereafter MION-NO3). The comparison among different measurement techniques revealed that the highest elemental oxygen-to-carbon ratios (O : C) of organic compounds were observed by the MION-NO3 (0.9 ± 0.1, average ± 1 standard deviation), followed by the MION-Br (0.8 ± 0.1); lowest O : C ratios were observed by Vocus (0.2 ± 0.1). Diurnal patterns of the measured organic compounds were found to vary among different measurement techniques, even for compounds with the same molecular formula, suggesting contributions of different isomers detected by the different techniques and/or fragmentation from different parent compounds inside the instruments. Based on the complementary molecular information obtained from Vocus, MION-Br, and MION-NO3, a more complete picture of the bulk volatility of all measured organic compounds in this boreal forest was obtained. As expected, the VOC class was the most abundant (about 53.2 %), followed by intermediate-volatility organic compounds (IVOCs, about 45.9 %). Although condensable organic compounds (low-volatility organic compounds, LVOCs; extremely low volatility organic compounds, ELVOCs; and ultralow-volatility organic compounds, ULVOCs) only comprised about 0.2 % of the total gaseous organic compounds, they play an important role in new particle formation as shown in previous studies in this boreal forest. Our study shows the full characterization of the gaseous organic compounds in the boreal forest and the advantages of combining Vocus and MION API-ToF for measuring ambient organic compounds with different oxidation extents (from VOCs to HOMs). The results therefore provide a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular composition and volatility of atmospheric organic compounds as well as new insights into interpreting ambient measurements or testing/improving parameterizations in transport and climate models.

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Non-thermal plasma treatment of volatile organic compounds: A predictive model based on experimental data analysis

Chemical Engineering Journal ◽

10.1016/j.cej.2019.01.100 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 364 ◽

pp. 37-44 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

P.H. Affonso Nóbrega ◽

V. Rohani ◽

L. Fulcheri

Keyword(s):

Experimental Data ◽

Data Analysis ◽

Volatile Organic Compounds ◽

Plasma Treatment ◽

Predictive Model ◽

Organic Compounds ◽

Thermal Plasma ◽

Volatile Organic ◽

Non Thermal Plasma ◽

Experimental Data Analysis

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Molecular composition and volatility of gaseous organic compounds in a boreal forest: from volatile organic compounds to highly oxygenated organic molecules

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-2819 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Wei Huang ◽

Haiyan Li ◽

Nina Sarnela ◽

Liine Heikkinen ◽

Yee Jun Tham ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Volatile Organic Compounds ◽

Boreal Forest ◽

Organic Compounds ◽

Mass Spectrometer ◽

Organic Molecules ◽

Measurement Techniques ◽

Time Of Flight ◽

Molecular Composition ◽

Flight Mass Spectrometer ◽

Volatile Organic

The molecular composition and volatility of gaseous organic compounds were investigated during April&#8211;July 2019 at the Station for Measuring Ecosystem &#8211; Atmosphere Relations (SMEAR) II situated in a boreal forest in Hyyti&#228;l&#228;, southern Finland. A Vocus proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer (Vocus PTR-ToF; hereafter Vocus) was deployed to measure volatile organic compounds (VOC) and less oxygenated VOC (i.e., OVOC). In addition, a multi-scheme chemical ionization inlet coupled to an atmospheric pressure interface time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MION APi-ToF) was used to detect less oxygenated VOC (using Br&#8211; as the reagent ion; hereafter MION-Br) and more oxygenated VOC (including highly oxygenated organic molecules, HOM; using NO3&#8211; as the reagent ion; hereafter MION-NO3). The comparison among different measurement techniques revealed that the highest elemental oxygen-to-carbon ratios (O:C) of organic compounds were observed by the MION-NO3 (0.9 &#177; 0.1, average &#177; 1 standard deviation), followed by the MION-Br (0.8 &#177; 0.1); and lowest by Vocus (0.2 &#177; 0.1). Diurnal patterns of the measured organic compounds were found to vary among different measurement techniques, even for compounds with the same molecular formula, suggesting contributions of different isomers detected by the different techniques and/or fragmentation from different parent compounds inside the instruments. Based on the complementary molecular information obtained from Vocus, MION-Br, and MION-NO3, a more complete picture of the bulk volatility of all measured organic compounds in this boreal forest was obtained. As expected, the VOC class was the most abundant (about 49.4 %), followed by intermediate-volatility organic compounds (IVOC, about 48.9 %). Although condensable organic compounds (low-volatility organic compounds, LVOC; extremely low-volatility organic compounds, ELVOC; and ultralow-volatility organic compounds, ULVOC) only comprised about 0.3 % of the total gaseous organic compounds, they play an important role in new particle formation as shown in previous studies in this boreal forest. Our study shows the full characterization of the gaseous organic compounds in the boreal forest and the advantages of combining Vocus and MION APi-ToF for measuring ambient organic compounds with different oxidation extent (from VOC to HOM). The results therefore provide a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular composition and volatility of atmospheric organic compounds as well as new insights in interpreting ambient measurements or testing/improving parameterizations in transport and climate models.Wei Huang and Haiyan Li contributed equally to this work.Correspondence to: Wei Huang ([email protected]) and Federico Bianchi ([email protected])

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