title: Seasonal variation of 2-methyltetrols in ambient air samples.
abstract: PM2.5 samples were collected from June to December 2005 in Potsdam, New York and analyzed for polar organic compounds by GC/MS. The major compounds that were identified in the samples included 2-methyltetrols (2-methylthreitol and 2-methylerythritol), levoglucosan, cispinonic acid, and mannitol. 2-Methyltetrols were quantified during the analysis. A seasonal variation for these two diastereoisomers was observed, with the highest concentrations occurring during the summer and the lowest concentrations occurring during the winter. OC/EC analyses of these samples were also performed. The variation of the carbon contribution of 2-methyltetrols to OC was found to follow the same pattern as the concentration variation of 2-methyltetrols. During summer, the period of high photochemical activity, the maximum carbon contribution of 2-methyltetrols to OC was 2.8%. The observation of high 2-methyltetrol concentrations during the summer indicates isoprene is a significant summertime source of secondary organic aerosol in this rural area in the northeastern United States.
authors.affiliation: Center for Air Resources Engineering and Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York 13699-5708, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Philip K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Hopke
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D002070:Butadienes; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004896:Erythritol / Q000032:analysis; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D045782:Hemiterpenes; D009518:New York; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis*; D010420:Pentanes; D012621:Seasons; D013402:Sugar Alcohols / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D002070:Butadienes; D045782:Hemiterpenes; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010420:Pentanes; D013402:Sugar Alcohols; C005059:isoprene; C003460:threitol; D002244:Carbon; D004896:Erythritol