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Mass spectral studies of airborne particulates and possible pollution sources
Author(s) -
Shultz J. L.,
Sharkey A. G.,
Friedel R. A.,
Nathanson Benjamin
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
biomedical mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.475
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9888
pISSN - 0306-042X
DOI - 10.1002/bms.1200010210
Subject(s) - particulates , combustion , environmental chemistry , coal , environmental science , coal combustion products , pollution , soot , air pollution , mass concentration (chemistry) , diesel exhaust , mass spectrometry , chemistry , ecology , organic chemistry , chromatography , biology
Abstract The organic material in airborne particulate matter is being studied by high resolution mass spectrometry to determine if hydrocarbons typical of major sources of pollution can be detected. Carbon number distributions and hydrogen‐to‐carbon ratios of components found in airborne particulate samples and the corresponding data for compounds detected in fuel combustion products show great similarity. Samples collected near large power stations and major airports were compared with typical urban particulate samples. Particulates collected from jet engine exhaust and a condensate from the stack effluent from a coal‐fired combustion system were studied. Mass spectral data were obtained for an auto exhaust tar, a coal tar pitch and several fuels. The mass spectra of two total particulate samples, compared to the spectrum of an ether extract of the organic matter, indicate that direct vaporization can be used and extraction is not essential for qualitative mass spectral studies.