Characterization of Organic Compounds in Atmospheric Nanoparticles by Thermal Extraction – Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography (GC x GC) in Combination with Selective Detection, Mass Spectrometry and Accurate Mass Detection

Abstract

App Note 7/2007

A method for characterization of airborne particles including the nanoparticles fraction with a diameter of 29-58 nm in roadside atmosphere is described. The method consists of thermal extraction (TE) and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC) with novel detection capabilities, including high resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HRTOF-MS), and simultaneous selective and mass spectrometric detection with a nitrogen phosphorous detector (NPD) and a quadrupole mass spectrometer (qMS).