Identification of Components in Organic Films by Coupled Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that viscous organic films of unknown composition develop on the surface of solutions containing propanal, glyoxal and high concentrations of sulfuric acid. These films, the products of significant contributors to atmospheric chemistry and particle composition, are theorized to have major implications in real world settings. Surface films that form on aerosol particles can alter cloud formation, diurnal patterns, and the optical properties of the atmosphere. In order to predict these chemical and physical properties, the components of both the films and the solutions that form them are studied via coupled Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). Spectra reveal the presence of a varying range of product masses (75 m/z to ~ 700 m/z) within these film-making solutions. This suggests the formation of oligomers and/or complex products from the simple starting components. As such, much of the chemistry involved in this process results from a series of acid-catalyzed mechanisms. This presentation will focus on detailed interpretation of the LC-MS results with the goal of determining the building-blocks for the oligomers and identifying as many of the molecules present in the films and the reaction solutions as possible.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2008
- Bibcode:
- 2008AGUFM.A11B0109T
- Keywords:
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- 0305 Aerosols and particles (0345;
- 4801;
- 4906);
- 0365 Troposphere: composition and chemistry;
- 0394 Instruments and techniques