title: Application of direct thermal desorption gas chromatography and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time of flight mass spectrometry for analysis of organic compounds in ambient aerosol particles.
abstract: Semivolatile organic compounds (SVOC) associated with ambient particles smaller than 2.5 microm (PM2.5) were determined in the city of Augsburg, Germany. Daily samples were collected at a central monitoring station from late summer 2002 to spring 2005. SVOC were analysed by direct thermal desorption (DTD)-GC and comprehensive 2-D GC coupled to TOF MS (DTD-GC-TOF MS and DTD-GC x GC-TOF MS). Two hundred compounds were quantified and 'semi-quantified' on a daily basis by DTD-GC-TOF MS. n-Alkanes, n-alkan-2-ones, n-alkanoic acid methyl esters, acetic acid esters, n-alkanoic acid amides, nitriles, linear alkylbenzenes and 2-alkyl-toluenes, hopanes, PAH, alkylated PAH and oxidised PAH, and several compounds that are not-grouped in homologous rows or compound classes were determined. Changes in concentration and pattern of several target compounds as well as methodological advantages and restrictions of DTD-GC-TOF MS are briefly discussed. DTD-GC-TOF MS analysis provided data particularly suited for source receptor modelling and epidemiological time series studies on the health effects of ambient PM. GC x GC enhances chromatographic resolution of PM samples and therefore amplifies the peak identification capabilities of the TOF MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Bavarian Institute of Applied Environmental Research and Technology, BIfA GmbH, Augsburg, Germany. jschnellekreis@bifa.de
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schnelle-Kreis
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Welthagen
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sklorz
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000388:Air / Q000032:analysis*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000379:methods*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005410:Flame Ionization / Q000379:methods; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D005858:Germany; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons