Developing Novel Analytical Systems for Deciphering Complex Mixtures of Organic Compounds and Training the Next Generation of Scientists

该项目的重点是制定方法，用于识别和表征大气中复杂有机物混合物中的特定有机化合物或化合物类别。 实验室将使用大量先进的分析技术和仪器，以最佳方式确定大气气体和气溶胶的特性。了解气相和颗粒相成分的复杂组成对于空气质量研究至关重要，特别是在确定吸入成分的毒性方面。 该项目包括支持研究生和本科生参与研究。 该项目还将涉及来自进化计划的高中学生。EVOLUTIONS的目标是补充服务水平低下的学生的正规学校经验，以发展可转移的技能，STEM素养，大学准备，并培养对STEM未来的愿望。该提案涉及离线分析GC x MS-MS和LC x MS-MS技术的方法开发，以改善难以使用在线技术测量的化合物类的表征。实验室研究将用于评估各种分析配置，以最佳表征大气气溶胶中存在的有机物类别，其中许多可能对有机气溶胶来源和大气处理的表征很重要。在任务1中，大气压化学电离（APCI）源和二次电喷雾电离（SESI）源将与Agilent GC x MS-MS集成。方法开发将用于改进吸附管上收集的中间挥发性/半挥发性有机碳（I/SVOC）的热提取。 任务2的重点是LC x MS-MS方法的开发，特别关注改善吸附管上收集的高含氧分子（HOM）物质的溶剂萃取。任务3将使用在线ToF-CIMS相互比较目标分析物（例如I/SVOC、HOM、有机硝酸盐）的结果。 这项工作有可能为有机气溶胶表征提供新的见解，特别是在与ToF-CIMS的相互比较研究方面。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

This project is focused on developing methods for identifying and characterizing specific organic compounds or classes of compounds in a complex mixture of organics in the atmosphere. A large array of sophisticated analytical techniques and instrumentation will be used in the laboratory for optimal characterization of atmospheric gases and aerosols. Understanding the complex composition of gas and particle phase constituents is critically important for air quality studies, especially with regards to determining the toxicity of the inhaled components. The project includes support for graduate and undergraduate students to participate in the research. The project will also involve high school students from the EVOLUTIONS program. The goal of EVOLUTIONS is to supplement the formal school experiences of underserved students to develop transferable skills, STEM literacy, college preparation, and foster aspirations for STEM futures.This proposal involves methods development for offline analytical GC x MS-MS and LC x MS-MS techniques to improve characterization of compound classes that are difficult to measure using online techniques. Laboratory studies will be used to evaluate various analytical configurations for optimal characterization of classes of organics present in atmospheric aerosols, many that are likely important for the characterization of organic aerosol sources and atmospheric processing. In Task 1, an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) source and a secondary electrospray ionization (SESI) source will be integrated with an Agilent GC x MS-MS. Method development will be employed to improve thermal extraction of intermediate volatility/ semi-volatile organic carbon (I/SVOCs) collected on adsorbent tubes. Task 2 is focused on LC x MS-MS method development, with specific focus on improving solvent extraction of highly oxygenated molecules (HOM) species collected on adsorbent tubes. Task 3 will intercompare results for target analytes (e.g. I/SVOCs, HOMs, organic nitrates) with an online ToF-CIMS. This work has the potential to contribute new insight to organic aerosol characterization, especially with regards to the intercomparison studies with ToF-CIMS.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.