Jian Zhen Yu

Gas-phase Ozone Oxidation of Monoterpenes: Gaseous and Particulate Products

Smog chamber experiments have beenconducted in which cyclic monoterpenes were oxidisedin the gas phase by OH. The evolved secondary organicaerosol (SOA) was analysed by LC-MSn and thegas-phase products were analysed by FT-IR. Theconcentrations of the identified compoundscorresponded to carbon mass balances in the range of40%–90%. The identified compounds in the particularphase corresponded to 0.5%–4.2% of the reactedcarbon. The most abundant compounds in SOA fromterpenes with an endocyclic C=C double bond wereC10-keto-aldehydes, C10-keto-carboxylicacids, C10-hydroxy-keto-carboxylic acids, andC10-hydroxy-keto-aldehydes (pinonaldehyde,pinonic acid, hydroxy-pinonic acid isomers, andhydroxy-pinonaldehyde isomers from α-pinene;3-caronaldehyde, 3-caronic acid, hydroxy-3-caronicacid isomers, and hydroxy-3-caronaldehyde isomers from3-carene). The most abundant compounds in SOA fromterpenes with an exocyclic C=C double bond wereC9-ketones, C9-dicarboxylic acids, andC10-hydroxy-keto-carboxylic acids (nopinone,pinic acid, and hydroxy-pinonic acid isomers fromβ-pinene; sabinaketone, sabinic acid andhydroxy-sabinonic acid isomers from sabinene).Decarboxylated analogues of most of the compounds werepresent in SOA in minor concentrations, such asC9-keto-carboxylic acids (norpinonic acid,nor-3-caronic acid) and C8-dicarboxylic acids(norpinic acid, nor-3-caric acid, norsabinic acid). InSOA from limonene, which contains an endocyclic aswell as an exocyclic C=C double bond, the mostabundant compounds were a C10-keto-aldehyde andits oxo-derivative (limononaldehyde and keto-limononaldehyde) together with hydroxy-derivatives of aC10-keto-carboxylic acid (isomers ofhydroxy-limononic acid). Also aC10-keto-carboxylic acid (limononic acid) waspresent together with minor concentrations of aC9-dicarboxylic acids (limonic acid), itsoxo-derivative (keto-limonic acid), and itsdecarboxylated analogue (norlimonic acid). Mechanisticpathways for the formation of these products, some ofwhich are identified here for the first time, areproposed.Smog chamber experiments have beenconducted in which cyclic monoterpenes were oxidisedin the gas phase by OH. The evolved secondary organicaerosol (SOA) was analysed by LC-MSn and thegas-phase products were analysed by FT-IR. Theconcentrations of the identified compoundscorresponded to carbon mass balances in the range of40%–90%. The identified compounds in the particularphase corresponded to 0.5%–4.2% of the reactedcarbon. The most abundant compounds in SOA fromterpenes with an endocyclic C=C double bond wereC10-keto-aldehydes, C10-keto-carboxylicacids, C10-hydroxy-keto-carboxylic acids, andC10-hydroxy-keto-aldehydes (pinonaldehyde,pinonic acid, hydroxy-pinonic acid isomers, andhydroxy-pinonaldehyde isomers from α-pinene;3-caronaldehyde, 3-caronic acid, hydroxy-3-caronicacid isomers, and hydroxy-3-caronaldehyde isomers from3-carene). The most abundant compounds in SOA fromterpenes with an exocyclic C=C double bond wereC9-ketones, C9-dicarboxylic acids, andC10-hydroxy-keto-carboxylic acids (nopinone,pinic acid, and hydroxy-pinonic acid isomers fromβ-pinene; sabinaketone, sabinic acid andhydroxy-sabinonic acid isomers from sabinene).Decarboxylated analogues of most of the compounds werepresent in SOA in minor concentrations, such asC9-keto-carboxylic acids (norpinonic acid,nor-3-caronic acid) and C8-dicarboxylic acids(norpinic acid, nor-3-caric acid, norsabinic acid). InSOA from limonene, which contains an endocyclic aswell as an exocyclic C=C double bond, the mostabundant compounds were a C10-keto-aldehyde andits oxo-derivative (limononaldehyde and keto-limononaldehyde) together with hydroxy-derivatives of aC10-keto-carboxylic acid (isomers ofhydroxy-limononic acid). Also aC10-keto-carboxylic acid (limononic acid) waspresent together with minor concentrations of aC9-dicarboxylic acids (limonic acid), itsoxo-derivative (keto-limonic acid), and itsdecarboxylated analogue (norlimonic acid). Mechanisticpathways for the formation of these products, some ofwhich are identified here for the first time, areproposed.

Observation of gaseous and particulate products of monoterpene oxidation in forest atmospheres

Atmospheric oxidation of biogenic hydrocarbons, such as monoterpenes, is estimated to be a significant source of global aerosol. Whereas laboratory studies have established that photochemical oxidation of monoterpenes leads to aerosol formation, there are limited field studies detecting such oxidation products in ambient aerosols. Drawing on prior results of monoterpene product analysis under controlled smog chamber conditions, we have identified organic aerosol components attributable to monoterpene oxidation in two forest atmospheres, Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia, Canada, and Big Bear, San Bernardino National Forest, California, U.S.A. The major identified aerosol products derived from α-pinene and β-pinene oxidation include pinic acid, pinonic acid, norpinonic acid and its isomers, hydroxy pinonaldehydes, and pinonaldehyde, concentrations of which in the aerosol phase are in the sub ng m^(−3) range. Identification of oxidation products in atmospheric aerosol samples serves as direct evidence for aerosol formation from monoterpenes under ambient conditions.

Atmospheric photooxidation of alkylbenzenes—I. Carbonyl product analyses

Abstract Six alkylbenzenes—toluene, p -xylene, m -xylene, o -xylene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene—were selected to investigate the carbonyl products resulting from OH-initiated oxidation of aromatic compounds. Experiments were conducted in both indoor and outdoor smog chambers under simulated atmospheric conditions. Both batch samples and 30 min interval samples were taken in the outdoor smog chamber experiments using 1 ppmV alkylbenzene, 0.67 ppm NO x and sunlight as the light source. A wide variety of carbonyl products were detected and identified using gas chromatography/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) detection by their O-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)-hydroxylamine (PFBHA) derivatives. Among the observed carbonyl products are aromatic aldehydes, quinones, di-unsaturated 1,6-dicarbonyls, unsaturated 1,4-dicarbonyls, saturated dicarbonyls, hydroxy dicarbonyls, glycolaldehyde, hydroxy acetone, and possibly triones and epoxy carbonyls. Quantification was achieved using 13 C 3 -acetone as a gas-phase internal standard. The numerous carbonyl products detected in itself partially explain previous difficulties in balancing the reacted carbon. They also provide additional insight into the oxidation mechanism for aromatic compounds, which will be discussed in this paper.

Identifying Airborne Carbonyl Compounds in Isoprene Atmospheric Photooxidation Products by Their PFBHA Oximes Using Gas Chromatography/Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry.

Coupled with gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric detection, the oxime formation of aldehydes and ketones by reaction with O-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluoro-benzyl)hydroxylamine hydrochloride (PFBHA) can be used to determine multi-functional airborne carbonyls as well as simple carbonyls. In this study, we report that methane chemical ionization of the PFBHA-carbonyl derivatives in an ion trap mass spectrometer provides for the determination of molecular weights of unknown carbonyls. We first report the study of model carbonyl compounds and then illustrate examples of detecting and identifying carbonyl products from methyl vinyl ketone and methacrolein experiments conducted in an indoor irradiation chamber and from isoprene experiments conducted in a dual outdoor smog chamber. The examples show that multifunctional carbonyls do account for part ofthe missing reaction products in the atmospheric oxidation of isoprene. The advantages of PFBHA derivatives over the normally used 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) derivatives will also be discussed.

The application of thermal methods for determining chemical composition of carbonaceous aerosols: a review.

Thermal methods of various forms have been used to quantify carbonaceous materials. Thermal/optical carbon analysis provides measurements of organic and elemental carbon concentrations as well as fractions evolving at specific temperatures in ambient and source aerosols. Detection of thermally desorbed organic compounds with thermal desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TD-GC/MS) identifies and quantifies over 100 individual organic compounds in particulate matter (PM) samples. The resulting mass spectra contain information that is consistent among, but different between, source emissions even in the absence of association with specific organic compounds. TD-GC/MS is a demonstrated alternative to solvent extraction for many organic compounds and can be applied to samples from existing networks. It is amenable to field-deployable instruments capable of measuring organic aerosol composition in near real-time. In this review, thermal stability of organic compounds is related to chemical structures, providing a basis for understanding thermochemical properties of carbonaceous aerosols. Recent advances in thermal methods applied to determine aerosol chemical compositions are summarized and their potential for uncovering aerosol chemistry are evaluated. Current limitations and future research needs of the thermal methods are included.

Extraction kinetics of copper, zinc, iron, and manganese from contaminated sediment using Disodium Ethylenediaminetetraacetate

One technique for cleansing heavy metal contaminated soils is to wash the excavated soil with an extraction solution of a chelating agent. The rate of extraction is an important parameter when considering the length of time needed for soil clean-up and the amount and concentration of wash solution required.The extraction kinetics of copper, zinc, iron and manganese from a contaminated sediment of the Clark Fork River in western Montana, U.S.A., with Disodiun Ethylenediaminetetraacetate (Na2EDTA) as the extraction agent, were investigated. The results showed the extraction process consisted of rapid extraction in the first minutes followed by much slower extraction for the remainder of the experiment. The rate of extraction, particularly in the rapid phase, demonstrated clear pH dependence: the lower the pH, the faster the extraction rate. In the EDTA concentration range of 0.01 M to 0.05 M, the effect of the EDTA concentration on the extraction rate was not important compared with that of the solution pH. Extraction kinetics for different size particles were similar, although in the first few minutes, EDTA extracted more metals from clay and silt than sand.The two reaction, diffusion, and two-constant kinetic models were compared to experimental results. The two reaction model did not fit any of the data well, and only iron extraction could be described with a simple diffusion model. In general the extraction rates can be well described by the two-constant model, C=A tB, up to 600 minutes and under different conditions such as solution pH, EDTA concentration, and different sediment particle size.

Sampling methods used for the collection of particle-phase organic and elemental carbon during ACE-Asia

Abstract The semi-volatile nature of carbonaceous aerosols complicates their collection, and for this reason special air sampling configurations must be utilized. ACE-Asia provided a unique opportunity to compare different sampling techniques for collecting carbonaceous aerosols. In this paper detailed comparisons between filter-based carbonaceous aerosol sampling methods are made. The majority of organic carbon (OC) present on a backup quartz fiber filter (QFF) in an undenuded-filter sampler resulted from the adsorption of native gaseous OC rather than OC evaporated from collected particles. The level of OC on a backup QFF placed behind a QFF was lower than the level present on a backup QFF placed behind a Teflon membrane filter (TMF) indicating that gas/filter equilibrium may not be achieved in some QFF front and backup filter pairs. Gas adsorption artifacts can result in a 20–100% overestimation of the ambient particle-phase OC concentration. The gas collection efficiency of XAD-coated and carbon-impregnated filter-lined denuders were not always 100%, but, nonetheless, such denuders minimize gas adsorption artifacts. The median fraction of particle-phase OC that is estimated to evaporate from particles collected by denuder-filter samplers ranged from 0 to 0.2; this value depends on the sampler configuration, chemical composition of the OC, and sampling conditions. After properly correcting for sampling artifacts, the measured OC concentration may differ by 10% between undenuded- and denuder-filter samplers. Uncorrected, such differences can be as large as a factor two, illustrating the importance of sampling configurations in which gas adsorption or evaporation artifacts are reduced or can be corrected.

Evaluation of an in-injection port thermal desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method for analysis of non-polar organic compounds in ambient aerosol samples

Thermal desorption coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TD-GC/MS) is an alternative to solvent extraction (SE)-based GC/MS (SE-GC/MS) for the analysis of non-polar organic compounds in filter or impactor-collected aerosols. TD-GC/MS has no sample pretreatment and requires a small filter aliquot for detecting individual organic compounds. The performance of an in-injection port TD-GC/MS is evaluated for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), n-alkanes, iso-/anteiso-alkanes, hopanes, steranes, branched alkanes, cyclohexanes, alkenes, and phthalates in standards and ambient air samples. Replicate analysis for 132 organic compounds showed relative standard deviations <10%, with the majority <5%. Accuracy for 15 PAHs, determined with NIST standard reference material (SRM) 1649a urban dust, was within +/-5% of the certified values. TD-GC/MS and SE-GC/MS method comparisons for 14 Hong Kong ambient samples agreed within 11% for 106 non-polar compounds. For 19 Tong Liang, China samples, agreement was within 13% for 23 PAHs.

Characteristics and health impacts of VOCs and carbonyls associated with residential cooking activities in Hong Kong.

Cooking emission samples collected in two residential kitchens were compared where towngas (denoted as dwelling A) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) (denoted as dwelling B) were used as cooking fuels. A total of 50 different volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were quantified during the 90 min cooking periods. None of any carcinogenic compounds like formaldehyde, acetaldehyde or benzene are detected in the raw fuels, confirming that those are almost entirely derived due to cooking activity alone. Alkenes accounted for approximately 53% of the total measured VOCs collected at dwelling A, while alkanes contributed approximately 95% of the VOCs at dwelling B during the cooking periods. The concentration of aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene and toluene also increased during the cooking periods. The total amount of carbonyls emitted from the cooking processes at dwelling A (2708 μg) is three times higher than that at dwelling B (793 μg). Acetaldehyde was the most abundant carbonyl at the dwelling A but its emission was insignificant at the dwelling B. Carcinogenic risks on chronic exposure to formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and benzene for housewives and domestic helpers were evaluated. Formaldehyde accounts for 68% and close to 100% of lifetime cancer risks at dwelling A and B, respectively.

Generation of reactive oxygen species mediated by Humic-like substances in atmospheric aerosols

Particulate matter (PM)-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation has been implicated in health effects posed by PM. Humic-like substances (HULIS) are an unresolved mixture of water-extracted organic compounds from atmospheric aerosol particles or isolated from fog/cloudwater samples. In this study, we use a cell-free dithiothreitol (DTT) assay to measure ROS production mediated by HULIS. The HULIS samples are isolated from aerosols collected at a rural location and a suburban location in the Pearl River Delta, China. In our experiments, ROS activities by residue metal ions in the HULIS fraction are suppressed by including a strong chelating agent in the DTT assay. Under conditions of DTT consumption not exceeding 90%, the HULIS-catalyzed oxidation of DTT follows the zero-order kinetics with respect to DTT concentration, and the rate of DTT oxidation is proportional to the dose of HULIS. The ROS activity of the aerosol HULIS, on a per unit mass basis is 2% of the ROS activity by a reference quinone compound, 1,4-naphthoquinone and exceeds that of two aquatic fulvic acids. The HULIS fraction in the ambient samples tested exhibits comparable ROS activities to the organic solvent extractable fraction, which would contain compounds such as quinones, a known organic compound class capable of catalyzing generation of ROS in cells. HULIS was found to be the major redox active constituent of the water-extractable organic fraction in PM. It is plausible that HULIS contains reversible redox sites, thereby serving as electron carriers to catalyze the formation of ROS. Our work suggests that HULIS could be an active PM component in generating ROS and further work is warranted to characterize its redox properties.