Survey of Direct Analysis Methods for Organic Compounds in Particulate Matter

摘要

Spark source, secondary ion and direct probe mass spectroscopy and infrared, Raman and photoacoustic optical spectroscopy were evaluated for their present and potential usefulness in direct quantification and semiquantitative analysis of aromatic hydrocarbons in particulate matter. It was found that spark source mass spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, Fourier-Transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy and photoacoustic spectroscopy did not provide sufficient sensitivity for the determination of environmental levels of polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons in particulate matter. Direct probe thermal desorption mass spectroscopy was found to be capable of the detection and quantification of organic compounds, particularly high molecular weight species not detected by commonly used extraction processes followed by gas chromatography or gas chromatography/mass spectroscopic analysis. It is further concluded that the organic material absorbed on ambient particulate matter may be much more complex than previously suspected.