Web Release Date: November 16,
Identification of Fulvic Acids and Sulfated and Nitrated Analogues in Atmospheric Aerosol by Electrospray Ionization Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry
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Department of Water Quality Control, Technical University of Berlin, Sekr KF 4, Strasse des 17 Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany, Center for Air Resources Engineering and Science, Clarkson University, Box 5708, Potsdam, New York 13699-5708, and Department of Chemistry, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Strasse 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
Received for review July 20, 2006. Accepted October 2, 2006.
Abstract:
The water-soluble organic fractions of aerosol samples collected in Riverside, CA, in summer 2005 were analyzed by electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS). Elemental compositions of about 1000 molecular species were determined in the range m/z 220-420, and four series of organic compounds were identified, fulvic acids, and S-containing, N-containing, and S- and N-containing molecules. Low-resolution product ion spectra proved the presence of organosulfates, organonitrates, and mixed organosulfates and -nitrates that appear to be structurally closely related to each other and to the fulvic acids. This is the first unambiguous detection of fulvic acid molecules and sulfated components in atmospheric aerosol and the first detection even of nitrated analogues. These species provide new clues to the nature of particulate organic matter in atmospheric aerosol.
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