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2001 Progress Report: Real-Time Monitoring of Individual Atmospheric Aerosol Particles: Establishing Correlations Between Particle Size and Chemical Speciation

EPA Grant Number: R826240
Title: Real-Time Monitoring of Individual Atmospheric Aerosol Particles: Establishing Correlations Between Particle Size and Chemical Speciation
Investigators: Prather, Kimberly A.
Institution: University of California - Riverside
EPA Project Officer: Shapiro, Paul
Project Period: February 1, 1998 through January 31, 2001
Project Period Covered by this Report: February 1, 2001 through January 31, 2002
Project Amount: $547,000
RFA: Ambient Air Quality (1997)
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics

Description:

Objective:

The objectives of this research project involve using a newly developed aerosol analysis technique developed in our laboratory, aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ATOFMS), for taking real-time measurements of the individual particle size and composition of ambient aerosols in a variety of locations in the United States. ATOFMS couples time-of-flight aerodynamic sizing with laser desorption ionization (LDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry, simultaneously measuring the size and chemical composition (as anions and cations) of individual aerosol particles in real time. One major objective of this research project involves establishing how particle size and composition vary at different locations in the United States. Single-particle signatures will be used to explore particle changes due to aging/chemistry, as well as to obtain information on particle sources. These studies will represent the first extended single-particle characterization studies, so efforts will be made to convert the qualitative data into more semiquantitative information on atmospheric particles that can be compared with other gas-phase, particle-phase, and meteorological data to further our understanding of aerosol chemistry on shorter time scales.

Progress Summary:

An aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometer was used during PM2.5 Technology Assessment and Characterization Study in Flushing, New York, from July 24 to August 6, 2001, characterizing the Northeast United States' chemical signatures. Particles containing various combinations of sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, carbon, dust, and sea salt were observed. During the study, the aerodynamic diameter and positive and negative ion time-of-flight mass spectra were collected for 209,510 particles. The peak lists were imported into Matlab 6.1 (The MathWorks, Inc.), which is now being used to conduct searches on the dataset and generate size histograms. Cluster analysis using adaptive resonance theory-based neural network (ART-2a) will be used to determine the major particle types. The data analysis and comparisons with data from other instruments is ongoing. In addition, further analysis of the Texas and Atlanta datasets was performed.

Future Activities:

Data analysis will continue on the Atlanta, Texas, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Grand Canyon, and New York datasets. Ultimately, comparisons will be made between the chemical composition of particles observed at these different sites. A major part of our efforts will be devoted to developing scaling procedures, which convert the ATOFMS data into atmospheric concentrations and allow for comparison with data from other semicontinuous instrumentation.


Journal Articles on this Report: 2 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Other project views: All 23 publications 5 publications in selected types All 5 journal articles

Type Citation Project Document Sources
Journal Article Angelino S, Suess DT, Prather KA. Formation of aerosol particles from reactions of secondary and tertiary alkylamines: characterization by aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Environmental Science & Technology 2001;35(15):3130-3138. R826240 (2001)
R826240 (Final)
  • Abstract from PubMed
    • Journal Article Guazzotti SA, Whiteaker JR, Suess D, Coffee KR, Prather KA. Real-time measurements of the chemical composition of size-resolved particles during a Santa Ana wind episode, California USA. Atmospheric Environment 2001;35(19):3229-3240. R826240 (2001)
    R826240 (Final)
  • Full-text: Science Direct Full Text
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  • Abstract: Science Direct Abstract
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    • Supplemental Keywords:

    air, aerosol, particulate matter, PM, measurement methods, Northeast, sulfates, organics, mobile sources, tropospheric, marine, chemical transport, visibility, ambient air, atmosphere, environmental chemistry, analytical, pollution, source allocation, real time, chemical analysis. , Air, Scientific Discipline, RFA, particulate matter, Environmental Chemistry, Ecology and Ecosystems, Environmental Monitoring, tropospheric ozone, ambient measurement methods, real time monitoring, chemical characteristics, chemical composition, chemical speciation sampling, air sampling, ambient aerosol particles, aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ATOFMS), fine particle formation, aerosol sampling, air pollution, ambient pollution control, ambient aerosol, atmospheric transport, particle size
    Relevant Websites:

    http://atofms.ucsd.edu exit EPA
    http://www.yaada.org exit EPA

    Progress and Final Reports:
    1998 Progress Report
    1999 Progress Report
    2000 Progress Report
    Original Abstract
    2002 Progress Report
    Final Report

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    The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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