METHOD DEVELOPMENT FOR DETERMINATION OF TRACE CONCENTRATIONS OF CARBOXYLIC ACIDS IN WOOD SMOKE PARTICULATE MATTER

摘要

We have been able to achieve a complete methylation for majority of carboxylic acids during the first derivatization step using PFBHA which allows easer MS interpretation without initial interference from numerous hydroxyl groups. Method was shown to be effective for hydroxyacids methylating carboxylic groups in the first step and derivatization hydroxyl groups in the second stp. The developed protocol was applied to wood smoke particulate matter (PM) samples to determine the concentration of wide range of carboxylic acids. The most abundant acids(～1 mg/g of wood smoke) were oxalic, succinic, glutaric and oxalacetic acid. In future, the method will be also applied to two other unique sets of atmospheric PM samples. One PM set was collected during Carbonaceous Aerosols and Radiative Effect Study (CARES) organized by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The second PM sample set was produced in collaboration with a group in Norway Institute of Health, which is investigating the health impact of particulate matter with a strong interest in aligning the toxicological response with chemical constitunts present in the studied particles.