54
*STTR Project: A Compact, In-Situ Instrument for Organic
Acid Aerosols—Aerosol Dynamics, Inc.,
Dr. Susanne Hering, Principal Investigator, Susanne@aerosol.us
Dr. Susanne Hering, Business Official, Susanne@aerosol.us
DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-04ER86179
Amount: $593,943
Research Institution
Among the
contributors to atmospheric pollution, carboxylic acids (including mono- and
dicarboxylic acids, aliphatic ketoacids, and aromatic acids) are an important
class of oxygenated, organic compounds in atmospheric aerosols. To better understand their effect on global
climate, and to identify their direct and precursor sources, time-resolved,
quantitative measurements of their concentrations are needed. This project will develop an automated, in situ instrument for the quantitative
measurement of the concentrations of organic acids in atmospheric aerosols. The instrument will utilize emerging
lab-on-a-chip and capillary electrophoresis technology, along with a new
water-based aerosol condensation methodology.
Phase I: (1) adapted a new,
laminar flow water condensation technology to the direct deposition of
submicrometer and nanometer diameter particles; (2) achieved 98% or higher
collection efficiency for particle sizes from 20 nm to 1000 nm; (3) interfaced the
deposition technique onto a lab-on-a-chip device; (4) evaluated the use of
capillary electrophoresis for the separation and quantification of organic
acids important to atmospheric aerosols; and (5) achieved the analysis for a
suite of 12 compounds ranging from formic to pinonic acid. Phase II will: (1) refine the aerosol-collector/lab-on-a-chip
interface to provide for more concentrated collection and for electrophoresis
analysis; (2) refine the analytical method to improve separations and extend
sensitivities to lower concentrations; (3) integrate the collection and
analytical capabilities into an automated system; and (4) test the system under
laboratory and field conditions.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The instrument should be applicable to the routine, hourly monitoring of carboxylic acids in atmospheric aerosols, providing improved time resolution and data immediacy at lower cost.