EAGER: Initial Phase of Development of a Molecular Isomer Resolving Aerosol Collector and Analyzer (MIRACA)

在这个迫切的项目中，将开发和测试用于测量环境有机气溶胶化学成分的分子异构体分辨气溶胶收集器和分析器(MIRACA)的概念验证原型。MIRACA将测量环境中有机气溶胶的颗粒和气体成分，时间分辨率为10分钟至1小时。这种高时间分辨率将特别有利于研究环境气溶胶的来源和转化及其对气候和人类健康的影响。MIRACA的设计基于气溶胶收集器和提取系统(ACE)，这是一种由美国国家科学基金会先前支持开发的仪器。ACES系统将扩展到气体测量，并与液-质联用(LC-MS)仪器集成，使收集、提取和分析的所有步骤完全自动化。MIRACA将以高时间分辨率提供数据，避免热分解伪影，并提高解析分子异构体的能力。MIRACA原型的性能将通过在实验室产生的气溶胶和生物质燃烧气溶胶的测量过程中与传统采样器进行比较来测试。MIRACA的最终目标是包括一台液相色谱仪-离子迁移率高分辨率质谱仪(LC-IMS-QTOF HRMS)。这一热切的提议是新颖的，代表着重大的创造力和创新。这一仪器的开发将大大改进大气科学界可用于环境高分辨率化学分析的工具。这项研究的更广泛的影响包括早期职业科学家和学生的参与，并将包括在社区内的推广。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

In this EAGER project, a proof-of-concept protype of the Molecular Isomer Resolving Aerosol Collector and Analyzer (MIRACA) for measurement of the chemical composition of ambient organic aerosols will be developed and tested. The MIRACA will make measurements of both the particulate and gaseous components of ambient organic aerosol with a time resolution of 10 min to 1 hour. This high time resolution will be especially beneficial for studies of the sources and transformations of ambient aerosol and their impact on climate and human health.The design of the MIRACA is based on the Aerosol Collector and Extractor System (ACES), an instrument developed with prior support from NSF. The ACES system will be extended to the measurement of gases and integrated with a liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry (LC-MS) instrument to fully automate all steps of collection, extraction, and analysis. The MIRACA will provide data at a high time resolution, avoid thermal decomposition artifacts, and enable an improved ability to resolve molecular isomers. The performance of the prototype MIRACA will be tested by comparing it with conventional samplers during measurements of laboratory-generated aerosols and biomass burning aerosols. The ultimate goal for the MIRACA is for it to include a liquid chromatograph - ion mobility high resolution mass spectrometer (LC-IMS-QTOF HRMS). This EAGER proposal is novel and represents significant creativity and innovation. The development of this instrument will significantly improve the tools available for ambient high resolution chemical analysis within the atmospheric science community. The broader impacts of this research include the participation of early career scientists and students and will include outreach within the community.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.