Deconvolution and Quantification of Hydrocarbon-like and Oxygenated Organic Aerosols Based on Aerosol Mass Spectrometry

A new technique has been developed to deconvolve and quantify the mass concentrations of hydrocarbon-like and oxygenated organic aerosols (HOA and OOA) using highly time-resolved organic mass spectra obtained with an Aerodyne Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS). This technique involves a series of multivariate linear regressions that use mass-to-charge ratios (ml/s) 57 (mostly C4H9+) and 44 (mostly CO2+)-the identified AMS mass spectral tracers for HOA and OOA, respectively-as the initial principal components. Two algorithms have been developed: algorithm 1 is based solely on m/z 44 and m/z 57, and algorithm 2 is an iterative procedure expanded from algorithm 1. This technique was applied to the AMS organic…

• NS
  National Science Foundation
• NA
  National Aeronautics and Space Administration