Articles | Volume 2, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-225-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-225-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
18 Jul 2024
Research article |
| 18 Jul 2024
| 18 Jul 2024
Direct detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on a molecular composition level in summertime ambient aerosol via proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry
Tobias Reinecke
IONICON Analytik GmbH, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Markus Leiminger
IONICON Analytik GmbH, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Andreas Klinger
IONICON Analytik GmbH, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
IONICON Analytik GmbH, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Related authors
Tobias Reinecke, Johanna-Gabriela Walter, Tim Kobelt, André Ahrens, Thomas Scheper, and Stefan Zimmermann
J. Sens. Sens. Syst., 7, 101–111, https://doi.org/10.5194/jsss-7-101-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/jsss-7-101-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
A systematic investigation of a split-ring resonator for application as a biosensor is presented. The parameters responsible for the sensitivity of the setup were determined using a new approach to determine the resonance frequency depending on the relative permittivity of the sample. Based on these parameters, the resonator structure was optimized. Subsequently, a split-ring resonator was functionalized with aptamers and a selective detection of CRP could be shown.
Karen E. Cady-Pereira, Xuehui Guo, Rui Wang, April B. Leytem, Chase Calkins, Elizabeth Berry, Kang Sun, Markus Müller, Armin Wisthaler, Vivienne H. Payne, Mark W. Shephard, Mark A. Zondlo, and Valentin Kantchev
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 15–36, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-15-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-15-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Ammonia is a significant precursor of PM2.5 particles and thus contributes to poor air quality in many regions. Furthermore, ammonia concentrations are rising due to the increase of large-scale, intensive agricultural activities. Here we evaluate satellite measurements of ammonia against aircraft and surface network data, and show that there are differences in magnitude, but the satellite data are spatially and temporally well correlated with the in situ data.
Victor Lannuque, Barbara D'Anna, Evangelia Kostenidou, Florian Couvidat, Alvaro Martinez-Valiente, Philipp Eichler, Armin Wisthaler, Markus Müller, Brice Temime-Roussel, Richard Valorso, and Karine Sartelet
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 15537–15560, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-15537-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-15537-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Large uncertainties remain in understanding secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from toluene oxidation. In this study, speciation measurements in gaseous and particulate phases were carried out, providing partitioning and volatility data on individual toluene SOA components at different temperatures. A new detailed oxidation mechanism was developed to improve modeled speciation, and effects of different processes involved in gas–particle partitioning at the molecular scale are explored.
Wiebke Scholz, Jiali Shen, Diego Aliaga, Cheng Wu, Samara Carbone, Isabel Moreno, Qiaozhi Zha, Wei Huang, Liine Heikkinen, Jean Luc Jaffrezo, Gaelle Uzu, Eva Partoll, Markus Leiminger, Fernando Velarde, Paolo Laj, Patrick Ginot, Paolo Artaxo, Alfred Wiedensohler, Markku Kulmala, Claudia Mohr, Marcos Andrade, Victoria Sinclair, Federico Bianchi, and Armin Hansel
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 895–920, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-895-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-895-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Dimethyl sulfide (DMS), emitted from the ocean, is the most abundant biogenic sulfur emission into the atmosphere. OH radicals, among others, can oxidize DMS to sulfuric and methanesulfonic acid, which are relevant for aerosol formation. We quantified DMS and nearly all DMS oxidation products with novel mass spectrometric instruments for gas and particle phase at the high mountain station Chacaltaya (5240 m a.s.l.) in the Bolivian Andes in free tropospheric air after long-range transport.
Markus Leiminger, Lukas Fischer, Sophia Brilke, Julian Resch, Paul Martin Winkler, Armin Hansel, and Gerhard Steiner
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 3705–3720, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-3705-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-3705-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We developed an axial ion mobility classifier coupled to an atmospheric-pressure interface time-of-flight (APi-TOF) mass spectrometer to measure size-segregated atmospheric ions. We characterize the performance of the novel instrument with bipolar-electrospray-generated ion mobility standards and compare the results with CFD simulations and a simplified numerical particle-tracking model. Ultimately, we report first mass–mobility measurements of atmospheric ions in Innsbruck, Austria.
Felix Piel, Markus Müller, Klaus Winkler, Jenny Skytte af Sätra, and Armin Wisthaler
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 1355–1363, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-1355-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-1355-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) instruments are widely used in the atmospheric community for measuring organic trace substances in the Earth's atmosphere. Some of these substances
stickonto and slowly come off surfaces in the PTR-MS analyzer, which makes it impossible to measure rapid changes in the atmosphere. Herein, we present a new type of PTR-MS instrument with a specially treated surface that mitigates this problem.
Betty Croft, Randall V. Martin, Richard H. Moore, Luke D. Ziemba, Ewan C. Crosbie, Hongyu Liu, Lynn M. Russell, Georges Saliba, Armin Wisthaler, Markus Müller, Arne Schiller, Martí Galí, Rachel Y.-W. Chang, Erin E. McDuffie, Kelsey R. Bilsback, and Jeffrey R. Pierce
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 1889–1916, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-1889-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-1889-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study measurements combined with GEOS-Chem-TOMAS modeling suggest that several not-well-understood key factors control northwest Atlantic aerosol number and size. These synergetic and climate-relevant factors include particle formation near and above the marine boundary layer top, particle growth by marine secondary organic aerosol on descent, particle formation/growth related to dimethyl sulfide, sea spray aerosol, and ship emissions.
Martin Heinritzi, Lubna Dada, Mario Simon, Dominik Stolzenburg, Andrea C. Wagner, Lukas Fischer, Lauri R. Ahonen, Stavros Amanatidis, Rima Baalbaki, Andrea Baccarini, Paulus S. Bauer, Bernhard Baumgartner, Federico Bianchi, Sophia Brilke, Dexian Chen, Randall Chiu, Antonio Dias, Josef Dommen, Jonathan Duplissy, Henning Finkenzeller, Carla Frege, Claudia Fuchs, Olga Garmash, Hamish Gordon, Manuel Granzin, Imad El Haddad, Xucheng He, Johanna Helm, Victoria Hofbauer, Christopher R. Hoyle, Juha Kangasluoma, Timo Keber, Changhyuk Kim, Andreas Kürten, Houssni Lamkaddam, Tiia M. Laurila, Janne Lampilahti, Chuan Ping Lee, Katrianne Lehtipalo, Markus Leiminger, Huajun Mai, Vladimir Makhmutov, Hanna Elina Manninen, Ruby Marten, Serge Mathot, Roy Lee Mauldin, Bernhard Mentler, Ugo Molteni, Tatjana Müller, Wei Nie, Tuomo Nieminen, Antti Onnela, Eva Partoll, Monica Passananti, Tuukka Petäjä, Joschka Pfeifer, Veronika Pospisilova, Lauriane L. J. Quéléver, Matti P. Rissanen, Clémence Rose, Siegfried Schobesberger, Wiebke Scholz, Kay Scholze, Mikko Sipilä, Gerhard Steiner, Yuri Stozhkov, Christian Tauber, Yee Jun Tham, Miguel Vazquez-Pufleau, Annele Virtanen, Alexander L. Vogel, Rainer Volkamer, Robert Wagner, Mingyi Wang, Lena Weitz, Daniela Wimmer, Mao Xiao, Chao Yan, Penglin Ye, Qiaozhi Zha, Xueqin Zhou, Antonio Amorim, Urs Baltensperger, Armin Hansel, Markku Kulmala, António Tomé, Paul M. Winkler, Douglas R. Worsnop, Neil M. Donahue, Jasper Kirkby, and Joachim Curtius
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 11809–11821, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-11809-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-11809-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
With experiments performed at CLOUD, we show how isoprene interferes in monoterpene oxidation via RO2 termination at atmospherically relevant concentrations. This interference shifts the distribution of highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOMs) away from C20 class dimers towards C15 class dimers, which subsequently reduces both biogenic nucleation and early growth rates. Our results may help to understand the absence of new-particle formation in isoprene-rich environments.
Mario Simon, Lubna Dada, Martin Heinritzi, Wiebke Scholz, Dominik Stolzenburg, Lukas Fischer, Andrea C. Wagner, Andreas Kürten, Birte Rörup, Xu-Cheng He, João Almeida, Rima Baalbaki, Andrea Baccarini, Paulus S. Bauer, Lisa Beck, Anton Bergen, Federico Bianchi, Steffen Bräkling, Sophia Brilke, Lucia Caudillo, Dexian Chen, Biwu Chu, António Dias, Danielle C. Draper, Jonathan Duplissy, Imad El-Haddad, Henning Finkenzeller, Carla Frege, Loic Gonzalez-Carracedo, Hamish Gordon, Manuel Granzin, Jani Hakala, Victoria Hofbauer, Christopher R. Hoyle, Changhyuk Kim, Weimeng Kong, Houssni Lamkaddam, Chuan P. Lee, Katrianne Lehtipalo, Markus Leiminger, Huajun Mai, Hanna E. Manninen, Guillaume Marie, Ruby Marten, Bernhard Mentler, Ugo Molteni, Leonid Nichman, Wei Nie, Andrea Ojdanic, Antti Onnela, Eva Partoll, Tuukka Petäjä, Joschka Pfeifer, Maxim Philippov, Lauriane L. J. Quéléver, Ananth Ranjithkumar, Matti P. Rissanen, Simon Schallhart, Siegfried Schobesberger, Simone Schuchmann, Jiali Shen, Mikko Sipilä, Gerhard Steiner, Yuri Stozhkov, Christian Tauber, Yee J. Tham, António R. Tomé, Miguel Vazquez-Pufleau, Alexander L. Vogel, Robert Wagner, Mingyi Wang, Dongyu S. Wang, Yonghong Wang, Stefan K. Weber, Yusheng Wu, Mao Xiao, Chao Yan, Penglin Ye, Qing Ye, Marcel Zauner-Wieczorek, Xueqin Zhou, Urs Baltensperger, Josef Dommen, Richard C. Flagan, Armin Hansel, Markku Kulmala, Rainer Volkamer, Paul M. Winkler, Douglas R. Worsnop, Neil M. Donahue, Jasper Kirkby, and Joachim Curtius
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 9183–9207, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-9183-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-9183-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Highly oxygenated organic compounds (HOMs) have been identified as key vapors involved in atmospheric new-particle formation (NPF). The molecular distribution, HOM yield, and NPF from α-pinene oxidation experiments were measured at the CLOUD chamber over a wide tropospheric-temperature range. This study shows on a molecular scale that despite the sharp reduction in HOM yield at lower temperatures, the reduced volatility counteracts this effect and leads to an overall increase in the NPF rate.
Dominik Stolzenburg, Mario Simon, Ananth Ranjithkumar, Andreas Kürten, Katrianne Lehtipalo, Hamish Gordon, Sebastian Ehrhart, Henning Finkenzeller, Lukas Pichelstorfer, Tuomo Nieminen, Xu-Cheng He, Sophia Brilke, Mao Xiao, António Amorim, Rima Baalbaki, Andrea Baccarini, Lisa Beck, Steffen Bräkling, Lucía Caudillo Murillo, Dexian Chen, Biwu Chu, Lubna Dada, António Dias, Josef Dommen, Jonathan Duplissy, Imad El Haddad, Lukas Fischer, Loic Gonzalez Carracedo, Martin Heinritzi, Changhyuk Kim, Theodore K. Koenig, Weimeng Kong, Houssni Lamkaddam, Chuan Ping Lee, Markus Leiminger, Zijun Li, Vladimir Makhmutov, Hanna E. Manninen, Guillaume Marie, Ruby Marten, Tatjana Müller, Wei Nie, Eva Partoll, Tuukka Petäjä, Joschka Pfeifer, Maxim Philippov, Matti P. Rissanen, Birte Rörup, Siegfried Schobesberger, Simone Schuchmann, Jiali Shen, Mikko Sipilä, Gerhard Steiner, Yuri Stozhkov, Christian Tauber, Yee Jun Tham, António Tomé, Miguel Vazquez-Pufleau, Andrea C. Wagner, Mingyi Wang, Yonghong Wang, Stefan K. Weber, Daniela Wimmer, Peter J. Wlasits, Yusheng Wu, Qing Ye, Marcel Zauner-Wieczorek, Urs Baltensperger, Kenneth S. Carslaw, Joachim Curtius, Neil M. Donahue, Richard C. Flagan, Armin Hansel, Markku Kulmala, Jos Lelieveld, Rainer Volkamer, Jasper Kirkby, and Paul M. Winkler
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 7359–7372, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-7359-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-7359-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Sulfuric acid is a major atmospheric vapour for aerosol formation. If new particles grow fast enough, they can act as cloud droplet seeds or affect air quality. In a controlled laboratory set-up, we demonstrate that van der Waals forces enhance growth from sulfuric acid. We disentangle the effects of ammonia, ions and particle hydration, presenting a complete picture of sulfuric acid growth from molecular clusters onwards. In a climate model, we show its influence on the global aerosol budget.
Matthew M. Coggon, Christopher Y. Lim, Abigail R. Koss, Kanako Sekimoto, Bin Yuan, Jessica B. Gilman, David H. Hagan, Vanessa Selimovic, Kyle J. Zarzana, Steven S. Brown, James M. Roberts, Markus Müller, Robert Yokelson, Armin Wisthaler, Jordan E. Krechmer, Jose L. Jimenez, Christopher Cappa, Jesse H. Kroll, Joost de Gouw, and Carsten Warneke
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 14875–14899, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-14875-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-14875-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Wildfire emissions significantly contribute to adverse air quality; however, the chemical processes that lead to hazardous pollutants, such as ozone, are not fully understood. In this study, we describe laboratory experiments where we simulate the atmospheric chemistry of smoke emitted from a range of biomass fuels. We show that certain understudied compounds, such as furans and phenolic compounds, are significant contributors to pollutants formed as a result of typical atmospheric oxidation.
Felix Piel, Markus Müller, Tomas Mikoviny, Sally E. Pusede, and Armin Wisthaler
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 12, 5947–5958, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-5947-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-5947-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Herein we report on the first successful airborne deployment of a CHARON PTR–ToF–MS instrument aboard the NASA DC–8 research aircraft. The analyzer is capable of chemically characterizing submicrometer atmospheric particles in a quantitative manner, at the near–molecular level, in real time. This brings a new and unprecedented measurement capability to the airborne atmospheric science community.
Markus Leiminger, Stefan Feil, Paul Mutschlechner, Arttu Ylisirniö, Daniel Gunsch, Lukas Fischer, Alfons Jordan, Siegfried Schobesberger, Armin Hansel, and Gerhard Steiner
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 12, 5231–5246, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-5231-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-5231-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We introduce an alternative type of atmospheric pressure interface time-of-flight mass spectrometer (APi-TOF) with the main difference of using hexapole instead of quadrupole ion guides. The transfer of cluster ions through the hexapoles was characterised with focus on transmission efficiency, mass range and fragmentation of cluster ions. At the CERN CLOUD experiment we compared the performance of the ioniAPi-TOF with a standard quadrupole APi-TOF under controlled conditions.
Xin Chen, Dylan B. Millet, Hanwant B. Singh, Armin Wisthaler, Eric C. Apel, Elliot L. Atlas, Donald R. Blake, Ilann Bourgeois, Steven S. Brown, John D. Crounse, Joost A. de Gouw, Frank M. Flocke, Alan Fried, Brian G. Heikes, Rebecca S. Hornbrook, Tomas Mikoviny, Kyung-Eun Min, Markus Müller, J. Andrew Neuman, Daniel W. O'Sullivan, Jeff Peischl, Gabriele G. Pfister, Dirk Richter, James M. Roberts, Thomas B. Ryerson, Stephen R. Shertz, Chelsea R. Thompson, Victoria Treadaway, Patrick R. Veres, James Walega, Carsten Warneke, Rebecca A. Washenfelder, Petter Weibring, and Bin Yuan
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 9097–9123, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-9097-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-9097-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) affect air quality and modify the lifetimes of other pollutants. We combine a high-resolution 3-D atmospheric model with an ensemble of aircraft observations to perform an integrated analysis of the VOC budget over North America. We find that biogenic emissions provide the main source of VOC reactivity even in most major cities. Our findings point to key gaps in current models related to oxygenated VOCs and to the distribution of VOCs in the free troposphere.
Tobias Reinecke, Johanna-Gabriela Walter, Tim Kobelt, André Ahrens, Thomas Scheper, and Stefan Zimmermann
J. Sens. Sens. Syst., 7, 101–111, https://doi.org/10.5194/jsss-7-101-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/jsss-7-101-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
A systematic investigation of a split-ring resonator for application as a biosensor is presented. The parameters responsible for the sensitivity of the setup were determined using a new approach to determine the resonance frequency depending on the relative permittivity of the sample. Based on these parameters, the resonator structure was optimized. Subsequently, a split-ring resonator was functionalized with aptamers and a selective detection of CRP could be shown.
Carla Frege, Ismael K. Ortega, Matti P. Rissanen, Arnaud P. Praplan, Gerhard Steiner, Martin Heinritzi, Lauri Ahonen, António Amorim, Anne-Kathrin Bernhammer, Federico Bianchi, Sophia Brilke, Martin Breitenlechner, Lubna Dada, António Dias, Jonathan Duplissy, Sebastian Ehrhart, Imad El-Haddad, Lukas Fischer, Claudia Fuchs, Olga Garmash, Marc Gonin, Armin Hansel, Christopher R. Hoyle, Tuija Jokinen, Heikki Junninen, Jasper Kirkby, Andreas Kürten, Katrianne Lehtipalo, Markus Leiminger, Roy Lee Mauldin, Ugo Molteni, Leonid Nichman, Tuukka Petäjä, Nina Sarnela, Siegfried Schobesberger, Mario Simon, Mikko Sipilä, Dominik Stolzenburg, António Tomé, Alexander L. Vogel, Andrea C. Wagner, Robert Wagner, Mao Xiao, Chao Yan, Penglin Ye, Joachim Curtius, Neil M. Donahue, Richard C. Flagan, Markku Kulmala, Douglas R. Worsnop, Paul M. Winkler, Josef Dommen, and Urs Baltensperger
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 65–79, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-65-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-65-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
It was recently shown that biogenic highly oxygenated molecules (HOMs) form particles in the absence of sulfuric acid and ions enhance the nucleation rate. Here we compare the molecular composition of positive and negative HOM clusters at 25, 5 and −25 °C. At lower temperatures the HOM average oxygen-to-carbon ratio decreases indicating a reduction in the rate of autoxidation due to rather high activation energy. The experimental findings are supported by quantum chemical calculations.
Mario Simon, Martin Heinritzi, Stephan Herzog, Markus Leiminger, Federico Bianchi, Arnaud Praplan, Josef Dommen, Joachim Curtius, and Andreas Kürten
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 2135–2145, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-2135-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-2135-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
This study demonstrate the detection of dimethylamine at low mixing ratios by nitrate chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS). Due to simultaneously high-sensitive gas-phase measurements of DMA, sulfuric acid, and extremely low volatile organic compounds (ELVOCs), this technique can be used as a versatile tool for studying new particle formation in the atmosphere.
P. Kupiszewski, C. Leck, M. Tjernström, S. Sjogren, J. Sedlar, M. Graus, M. Müller, B. Brooks, E. Swietlicki, S. Norris, and A. Hansel
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 12405–12431, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-12405-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-12405-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Aerosol Measurements & Instrumentation (AMI)
Influence of soot aerosol properties on the counting efficiency of instruments used for the periodic technical inspection of diesel vehicles
Reduced particle composition dependence in condensation particle counters
Performance evaluation of a semivolatile aerosol dichotomous sampler (SADS) for exposure assessment: impact of design issues
Extended aerosol optical depth (AOD) time series analysis in an Alpine valley: a comparative study from 2007 to 2023
Comparison of size distribution and electrical particle sensor measurement methods for particle lung deposited surface area (LDSAal) in ambient measurements with varying conditions
A multi-instrumental approach for calibrating real-time mass spectrometers using high-performance liquid chromatography and positive matrix factorization
Opinion: Should high-resolution differential mobility analyzers be used in mainstream aerosol studies?
Pushing nano-aerosol measurements towards a new decade – technical note on the Airmodus particle size magnifier 2.0
Evaluation of a Partector Pro for atmospheric particle number size distribution and number concentration measurements at an urban background site
A novel measurement system for unattended, in situ characterization of carbonaceous aerosols
Optimized procedure for the determination of alkylamines in airborne particulate matter of anthropized areas
A new working fluid for condensation particle counters for use in sensitive working environments
Tobias Hammer, Diana Roos, Barouch Giechaskiel, Anastasios Melas, and Konstantina Vasilatou
Aerosol Research, 2, 261–270, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-261-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-261-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
More than 35 000 particle counters designed for the periodic technical inspection of diesel engine exhaust have been placed on the European market in the past few years. This work shows that the counting efficiency of these instruments depends on the properties of the test aerosols, even if all of them are combustion-based soot of similar mobility diameter. The aim of this study is to promote harmonisation of measurement procedures in the field of emission control.
Peter J. Wlasits, Joonas Enroth, Joonas Vanhanen, Aki Pajunoja, Hinrich Grothe, Paul M. Winkler, and Dominik Stolzenburg
Aerosol Research, 2, 199–206, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-199-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-199-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We highlight that the composition dependence of the counting efficiency of condensation particle counters can be immensely reduced by choice of the working fluid. A butanol- and a propylene glycol-based version of the Airmodus A30 was calibrated using a set of four different seed particles. Our study shows that composition-dependent counting efficiencies almost vanish in the case of the propylene glycol-based CPC. Simulations of supersaturation profiles were used to explain the results.
Noredine Rekeb, Benjamin Sutter, Emmanuel Belut, Evelyne Géhin, and Raymond Olsen
Aerosol Research, 2, 183–198, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-183-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-183-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study addresses challenges in semivolatile organic compound (SVOC) aerosol sampling. Despite its promise, experimental evaluations of the semivolatile aerosol dichotomous sampler (SADS) reveal issues with leakiness, assembly repeatability, and significant wall losses for particles larger than 2 µm. Findings suggest the need for improvements in airtightness, nozzle alignment, and assembly repeatability for the SADS to fulfil its theoretical potential in workplace exposure assessments.
Jochen Wagner, Alma Anna Ubele, Verena Schenzinger, and Axel Kreuter
Aerosol Research, 2, 153–159, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-153-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-153-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, we explored how tiny particles in the air, known as aerosols, have changed over time in two mountainous areas in Austria and Switzerland from 2007 to 2023. By using special instruments that measure sunlight, we tracked these changes and found that the amount of aerosols has been decreasing in both locations. This is important because aerosols can affect both our health and the climate. This work is crucial for understanding air quality trends in mountain environments.
Teemu Lepistö, Henna Lintusaari, Laura Salo, Ville Silvonen, Luis M. F. Barreira, Jussi Hoivala, Lassi Markkula, Jarkko V. Niemi, Jakub Ondracek, Kimmo Teinilä, Hanna E. Manninen, Sanna Saarikoski, Hilkka Timonen, Miikka Dal Maso, and Topi Rönkkö
Aerosol Research Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2024-13, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2024-13, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for AR
Short summary
Short summary
The performances of different particle lung deposited surface area (LDSAal) measurement methods (Partector, ELPI+, SMPS/DMPS) were compared in ambient conditions. As LDSAal is a health-relevant metric and rather easy to utilise in air quality monitoring, it is crucial to know how the different methods agree as there are clear differences in their operation. In all, comparison of different methods can be complicated, but, still, the methods agree rather well in terms of local pollution (<400 nm).
Melinda K. Schueneman, Douglas A. Day, Dongwook Kim, Pedro Campuzano-Jost, Seonsik Yun, Marla P. DeVault, Anna C. Ziola, Paul J. Ziemann, and Jose L. Jimenez
Aerosol Research, 2, 59–76, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-59-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-59-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Our study presents a novel method for quantifying mass spectrometer responses to molecular species in organic aerosols. Traditional calibrations often fail for complex mixtures like secondary organic aerosol. We combined chromatography with statistical component analysis to improve separation and quantification, achieving promising agreement with direct calibration. Our findings offer a new approach to assess aerosol composition, especially beneficial for complex mixtures.
Juan Fernandez de la Mora
Aerosol Research, 2, 21–30, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-21-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-21-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Differential mobility analyzers (DMAs) are widely used to measure aerosol size distributions. Here we argue that DMAs operating steadily at unusually high flow rates are not as complex as they appear and could be used with considerable advantage in many measurements currently carried out in conventional DMAs. We hope that the considerations presented will encourage DMA manufacturers to develop high-flow DMAs far more versatile yet comparable in complexity to today’s mainstream instruments.
Juha Sulo, Joonas Enroth, Aki Pajunoja, Joonas Vanhanen, Katrianne Lehtipalo, Tuukka Petäjä, and Markku Kulmala
Aerosol Research, 2, 13–20, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-13-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-13-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We present a novel version of an aerosol number size distribution instrument, showcasing its capability to measure particle number concentration and particle number size distribution between 1 and 12 nm. Our results show that the instrument agrees well with existing instrumentation and allows for both the accurate measurement of the smallest particles and overlap with more conventional aerosol number size distribution instruments.
Christof Asbach, Ana Maria Todea, and Heinz Kaminski
Aerosol Research, 2, 1–12, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-1-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-2-1-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The performance of the handheld Partector Pro has been evaluated against a reference mobility particle size spectrometer (MPSS) for 70 days at an urban background site. The number concentrations measured with the Partector Pro were in excellent and the number size distributions in reasonable agreement with the MPSS. The Partector Pro is thus a promising candidate for the widespread measurement of ultrafine particle concentrations as, for example, requested by WHO, at reasonable costs.
Alejandro Keller, Patrick Specht, Peter Steigmeier, and Ernest Weingartner
Aerosol Research, 1, 65–79, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-1-65-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-1-65-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Ultra-fine airborne carbon particles affect climate and health, but measuring them poses many challenges. This paper presents an innovative device called FATCAT that enables unattended and continuous measurement of these particles over extended periods of time. We detail FATCAT's performance, demonstrate its compatibility with established methods and introduce the unique feature of fast thermograms, a novel approach to further understand real-world samples containing carbonaceous particles.
Davide Spolaor, Lidia Soldà, Gianni Formenton, Marco Roverso, Denis Badocco, Sara Bogialli, Fazel A. Monikh, and Andrea Tapparo
Aerosol Research, 1, 29–38, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-1-29-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-1-29-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
In remote environments, atmospheric amines are involved in new particle formation processes. In anthropized areas, they readily react to form secondary aerosol. These particles may have relevant environmental (climate) and health effects. Together with instrumental techniques for the on-line determination of these compounds (PTR-MS, AMS), the development of simple methods for their accurate quantification represents a scientific target aimed at by obtaining more significant environmental data.
Patrick Weber, Oliver F. Bischof, Benedikt Fischer, Marcel Berg, Jannik Schmitt, Gerhard Steiner, Lothar Keck, Andreas Petzold, and Ulrich Bundke
Aerosol Research, 1, 1–12, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-1-1-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-1-1-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The aerosol number concentration is essential information for aerosol science. A condensation particle counter (CPC) can robustly provide this information. Butanol is often used as a working fluid in a CPC. We could show that dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) behaves equivalently to butanol in terms of the instrument`s counting efficiency, cut-off diameter and concentration linearity. We tested this on different aerosols, including sodium chloride, ammonium sulfate and fresh combustion soot.
Cited articles
Agudelo-Castañeda, D. M., Teixeira, E. C., Schneider, I. L., Lara, S. R., and Silva, L. F. O.: Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in atmospheric PM1.0 of urban environments: Carcinogenic and mutagenic respiratory health risk by age groups, Environ. Pollut., 224, 158–170, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.01.075, 2017.
Arndt, D., Wachsmuth, C., Buchholz, C., and Bentley, M.: A complex matrix characterization approach, applied to cigarette smoke, that integrates multiple analytical methods and compound identification strategies for non-targeted liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry, Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom., 34, e8571, https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.8571, 2020.
Borrás, E. and Tortajada-Genaro, L. A.: Characterisation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in atmospheric aerosols by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, Anal. Chim. Acta, 583, 266–276, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2006.10.043, 2007.
Bosque, R. and Sales, J.: Polarizabilities of Solvents from the Chemical Composition, J. Chem. Inf. Comput. Sci., 42, 1154–1163, https://doi.org/10.1021/ci025528x, 2002.
Boutsidis, C. and Gallopoulos, E.: SVD based initialization: A head start for nonnegative matrix factorization, Pattern Recognition, 41, 1350–1362, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.patcog.2007.09.010, 2008.
Choi, H., Harrison, R., Komulainen, H., and Saborit, J. M. D.: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, in: WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Selected Pollutants, World Health Organization, 289–346 pp., 2010.
Dorner, T. E., Brath, H., and Kautzky-Willer, A.: Sex-specific trends in smoking prevalence over seven years in different Austrian populations: results of a time-series cross-sectional analysis, BMJ Open, 10, e035235, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-035235, 2020.
Dzepina, K., Arey, J., Marr, L. C., Worsnop, D. R., Salcedo, D., Zhang, Q., Onasch, T. B., Molina, L. T., Molina, M. J., and Jimenez, J. L.: Detection of particle-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Mexico City using an aerosol mass spectrometer, Int. J. Mass Spectro., 263, 152–170, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijms.2007.01.010, 2007.
Eichler, P., Müller, M., D'Anna, B., and Wisthaler, A.: A novel inlet system for online chemical analysis of semi-volatile submicron particulate matter, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 8, 1353–1360, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-1353-2015, 2015.
Eriksson, A. C., Nordin, E. Z., Nyström, R., Pettersson, E., Swietlicki, E., Bergvall, C., Westerholm, R., Boman, C., and Pagels, J. H.: Particulate PAH Emissions from Residential Biomass Combustion: Time-Resolved Analysis with Aerosol Mass Spectrometry, Environ. Sci. Technol., 48, 7143–7150, https://doi.org/10.1021/es500486j, 2014.
Graus, M., Müller, M., and Hansel, A.: High resolution PTR-TOF: Quantification and formula confirmation of VOC in real time, J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom., 21, 1037–1044, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasms.2010.02.006, 2010.
Gueneron, M., Erickson, M. H., VanderSchelden, G. S., and Jobson, B. T.: PTR-MS fragmentation patterns of gasoline hydrocarbons, Int. J. Mass Spectro., 379, 97–109, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijms.2015.01.001, 2015.
Hansel, A., Jordan, A., Holzinger, R., Prazeller, P., Vogel, W., and Lindinger, W.: Proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry: on-line trace gas analysis at the ppb level, Int. J. Mass Spectro. Ion Process., 149–150, 609–619, https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-1176(95)04294-U, 1995.
Herring, C. L., Faiola, C. L., Massoli, P., Sueper, D., Erickson, M. H., McDonald, J. D., Simpson, C. D., Yost, M. G., Jobson, B. T., and VanReken, T. M.: New Methodology for Quantifying Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Using High-Resolution Aerosol Mass Spectrometry, Aerosol Sci. Technol., 49, 1131–1148, https://doi.org/10.1080/02786826.2015.1101050, 2015.
Karl, T., Gohm, A., Rotach, M. W., Ward, H. C., Graus, M., Cede, A., Wohlfahrt, G., Hammerle, A., Haid, M., Tiefengraber, M., Lamprecht, C., Vergeiner, J., Kreuter, A., Wagner, J., and Staudinger, M.: Studying Urban Climate and Air Quality in the Alps: The Innsbruck Atmospheric Observatory, B. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 101, E488–E507, https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-19-0270.1, 2020.
Kaur, S., Senthilkumar, K., Verma, V. K., Kumar, B., Kumar, S., Katnoria, J. K., and Sharma, C. S.: Preliminary Analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Air Particles (PM10) in Amritsar, India: Sources, Apportionment, and Possible Risk Implications to Humans, Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol., 65, 382–395, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-013-9912-6, 2013.
Laskin, J., Laskin, A., and Nizkorodov, S. A.: Mass Spectrometry Analysis in Atmospheric Chemistry, Anal. Chem., 90, 166–189, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.7b04249, 2018.
Leglise, J., Müller, M., Piel, F., Otto, T., and Wisthaler, A.: Bulk Organic Aerosol Analysis by Proton-Transfer-Reaction Mass Spectrometry: An Improved Methodology for the Determination of Total Organic Mass, O:C and H:C Elemental Ratios, and the Average Molecular Formula, Anal. Chem., 91, 12619–12624, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.9b02949, 2019.
Lung, S.-C. C. and Liu, C.-H.: Fast analysis of 29 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitro-PAHs with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure photoionization-tandem mass spectrometry, Sci. Rep., 5, 12992, https://doi.org/10.1038/srep12992, 2015.
Müller, M., Mikoviny, T., Jud, W., D'Anna, B., and Wisthaler, A.: A new software tool for the analysis of high resolution PTR-TOF mass spectra, Chemometr. Intell. Lab., 127, 158–165, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemolab.2013.06.011, 2013.
Müller, M., Eichler, P., D'Anna, B., Tan, W., and Wisthaler, A.: Direct Sampling and Analysis of Atmospheric Particulate Organic Matter by Proton-Transfer-Reaction Mass Spectrometry, Anal. Chem., 89, 10889–10897, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.7b02582, 2017.
Müller, M., Piel, F., Gutmann, R., Sulzer, P., Hartungen, E., and Wisthaler, A.: A novel method for producing NH
Passig, J., Schade, J., Irsig, R., Kröger-Badge, T., Czech, H., Adam, T., Fallgren, H., Moldanova, J., Sklorz, M., Streibel, T., and Zimmermann, R.: Single-particle characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in background air in northern Europe, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 1495–1514, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-1495-2022, 2022.
Patel, A. B., Shaikh, S., Jain, K. R., Desai, C., and Madamwar, D.: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Sources, Toxicity, and Remediation Approaches, Front. Microbiol., 11, 562813, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.562813, 2020.
Piel, F., Müller, M., Mikoviny, T., Pusede, S. E., and Wisthaler, A.: Airborne measurements of particulate organic matter by proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS): a pilot study, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 12, 5947–5958, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-5947-2019, 2019.
Piel, F., Müller, M., Winkler, K., Skytte af Sätra, J., and Wisthaler, A.: Introducing the extended volatility range proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometer (EVR PTR-MS), Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 1355–1363, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-1355-2021, 2021.
Poulain, L., Iinuma, Y., Müller, K., Birmili, W., Weinhold, K., Brüggemann, E., Gnauk, T., Hausmann, A., Löschau, G., Wiedensohler, A., and Herrmann, H.: Diurnal variations of ambient particulate wood burning emissions and their contribution to the concentration of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Seiffen, Germany, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 12697–12713, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-12697-2011, 2011.
Reinecke, T., Leiminger, M., Jordan, A., Wisthaler, A., and Müller, M.: Ultrahigh Sensitivity PTR-MS Instrument with a Well-Defined Ion Chemistry, Anal. Chem., 95, 11879–11884, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.3c02669, 2023.
Schade, J., Passig, J., Irsig, R., Ehlert, S., Sklorz, M., Adam, T., Li, C., Rudich, Y., and Zimmermann, R.: Spatially Shaped Laser Pulses for the Simultaneous Detection of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons as well as Positive and Negative Inorganic Ions in Single Particle Mass Spectrometry, Anal. Chem., 91, 10282–10288, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.9b02477, 2019.
Sekimoto, K., Li, S.-M., Yuan, B., Koss, A., Coggon, M., Warneke, C., and de Gouw, J.: Calculation of the sensitivity of proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) for organic trace gases using molecular properties, Int. J. Mass Spectro., 421, 71–94, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijms.2017.04.006, 2017.
Su, T. and Chesnavich, W. J.: Parametrization of the ion–polar molecule collision rate constant by trajectory calculations, The J. Chem. Phys., 76, 5183–5185, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.442828, 1982.
Thrane, K. E. and Mikalsen, A.: High-volume sampling of airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using glass fibre filters and polyurethane foam, Atmos. Environ. (1967), 15, 909–918, https://doi.org/10.1016/0004-6981(81)90090-1, 1981.
Ulbrich, I. M., Canagaratna, M. R., Zhang, Q., Worsnop, D. R., and Jimenez, J. L.: Interpretation of organic components from Positive Matrix Factorization of aerosol mass spectrometric data, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 9, 2891–2918, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-9-2891-2009, 2009.
Wisthaler, A., Müller, M., Poulain, L., Piel, F., Gräfe, R., Spindler, G., Wiedensohler, A., and Herrmann, H.: Chemical Characterization of Particulate and Volatile Organic Compounds in the Rural Wintertime Atmosphere by CHARON PTR-ToF-MS, EGU General Assembly 2020, Online, 4–8 May 2020, EGU2020-19635, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-19635, 2020.
Xu, P., Yang, Y., Zhang, J., Gao, W., Liu, Z., Hu, B., and Wang, Y.: Characterization and source identification of submicron aerosol during serious haze pollution periods in Beijing, J. Environ. Sci., 112, 25–37, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2021.04.005, 2022.
Yassine, M. M., Harir, M., Dabek-Zlotorzynska, E., and Schmitt-Kopplin, P.: Structural characterization of organic aerosol using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry: Aromaticity equivalent approach, Rapid Commun. Mass Spectro., 28, 2445–2454, https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.7038, 2014.
Yuan, B., Koss, A. R., Warneke, C., Coggon, M., Sekimoto, K., and de Gouw, J. A.: Proton-Transfer-Reaction Mass Spectrometry: Applications in Atmospheric Sciences, Chem. Rev., 117, 13187–13229, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00325, 2017.
Short summary
Condensed particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxic compounds that may be detrimental to human health, even at low (sub-ng m-3) long-term exposure levels. The CHARON FUSION PTR-TOF 10k is capable of directly detecting PAHs on a chemical composition level at significantly lower mass concentrations. Herein, we report the time series of nine PAHs and identify three associated major sources and physicochemical processes for summertime aerosol in Innsbruck, Austria.
Condensed particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxic compounds that may be...
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint