Chemistry Commons^™

Molecular Characterization Of The Soluble Fraction Of Atmospheric Particulate Matter Obtained By Chemical Oxidation With Nitric Acid, Amanda Susan Priest

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

The availability of information regarding the composition of ambient atmospheric particulate matter and the transformations that these compounds may undergo upon atmospheric transit is surprisingly absent. Electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry is used in this study to rapidly evaluate the composition of the water-soluble organic fraction of standard and collected atmospheric particulate matter samples, and the changes that these mixtures undergo upon oxidation with nitric acid. The standard samples include representative particulate matter collected over the course of a year in Washington, D.C. and particulate matter from the exhaust of a diesel-powered engine. The collected sample …