Molecular Characterization of Organosulfur Compounds in Biodiesel and Diesel Fuel Secondary Organic Aerosol

Regional differences in molecular characteristics of atmospheric water-soluble organic carbon over northern China: Comparison of remote, rural, and urban environments

Atmospheric water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) is a critical component of airborne particulates. It significantly affects the Earth's energy balance, air quality, and human health. Despite its importance, the molecular composition and sources of WSOC remain unclear, particularly in non-urban areas. In this study, we collected total suspended particulate (TSP) samples from three sites in northern China: Erenhot (remote site), Zhangbei (rural site), and Jinan (urban site). The WSOC components were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry. The results showed that the formula numbers of identified compounds exhibited a decreasing trend of Jinan (2647) > Zhangbei (2046) > Erenhot (1399). Among the assigned formulas, CHO compounds were the most abundant category for all three sites, accounting for 33 %-38 % of the identified compounds, followed by the CHON compounds with contributions of 27 %-30 %. In the remote site of Erenhot, CHO compounds were dominated by oxidized unsaturated organic compounds, and CHON compounds were mainly low-oxygenated aliphatic compounds, suggesting a significant influence of primary emissions. In contrast, the urban site of Jinan showed higher contributions of CHO and CHON compounds with elevated oxidation degrees, indicating the influence of more extensive secondary oxidation processes. Atmospheric WSOC in Erenhot and Zhangbei had abundant reduced sulfur-containing species, likely from coal or diesel combustion, while that in Jinan was characterized by aliphatic organosulfates and nitrooxy-organosulfates, which are mainly associated with traffic emissions and biogenetic sources, respectively. These findings reveal significant differences in the molecular composition of WSOC in different atmospheric environments and improve our understanding of the chemical properties, potential sources, and transformations of organic aerosols.

Comparative analysis of organic chemical compositions in airborne particulate matter from Ulaanbaatar, Beijing, and Seoul using UPLC-FT-ICR-MS and artificial neural network

This paper presents comparative study on the composition and sources of PM2.5 in Ulaanbaatar, Beijing, and Seoul. Ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) combined with ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry (UHR-MS) were employed to analyze 85 samples collected in winter. The obtained 340 spectra were interpreted with artificial neural network (ANN). PM2.5 mass concentrations in Ulaanbaatar were significantly higher than those in Beijing and Seoul. ANN based interpretation of UPLC UHR-MS data showed that aliphatic/lipid derived organo‑sulfur compounds, polycyclic aromatic and organo‑oxygen compounds were characteristic to Ulaanbaatar. Whereas, aliphatic/lipid-derived organo‑oxygen compounds were major components in Beijing and Seoul. Aromatic organo‑nitrogen compounds were the main contributors to differentiating the spectra obtained from Beijing from the other cities. Based on two-dimensional gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometric (GCxGC/HRMS) data, it was determined that the concentrations of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycle (PASH) containing sulfur were highest in Ulaanbaatar, followed by Beijing and Seoul. Coal/biomass combustion was identified as the primary source of contamination in Ulaanbaatar, while petroleum combustion was the main contributor to PM2.5 in Beijing and Seoul. The conclusion that diesel-powered heavy-duty trucks and buses are the main contributors to NOx emissions in Beijing is consistent with previous reports. This study provides a more comprehensive understanding of the composition and sources of PM2.5 in the three cities, with a focus on the differences in their atmospheric pollution profiles based on the UPLC UHR-MS and ANN analysis. It is notable that this study is the first to utilize this method on a large-scale sample set, providing a more detailed and molecular-level understanding of the compositional differences among PM2.5. Overall, the study contributes to a better understanding of the sources and composition of PM2.5 in Northeast Asia, which is essential for developing effective strategies to reduce air pollution and improve public health.

Diversity of organic components in airborne waste discharged from sewer pipe repairs

Air-discharged waste from commonly used trenchless technologies of sewer pipe repairs is an emerging and poorly characterized source of urban pollution. This study reports on the molecular-level characterization of the atmospherically discharged aqueous-phase waste condensate samples collected at four field sites of the sewer pipe repairs. The molecular composition of organic species in these samples was investigated using reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector and a high-resolution mass spectrometer equipped with interchangeable atmospheric pressure photoionization and electrospray ionization sources. The waste condensate components comprise a complex mixture of organic species that can partition between gas-, aqueous-, and solid-phases when water evaporates from the air-discharged waste. Identified organic species have broad variability in molecular weight, molecular structures, and carbon oxidation state, which also varied between the waste samples. All condensates contained complex mixtures of oxidized organics, N- and S-containing organics, condensed aromatics, and their functionalized derivatives that are directly released to the atmospheric environment during installations. Furthermore, semi-volatile, low volatility, and extremely low volatility organic compounds comprise 75-85% of the total compounds identified in the waste condensates. Estimates of the component-specific viscosities suggest that upon evaporation of water waste material would form the semi-solid and solid phases. The low volatilities and high viscosities of chemical components in these waste condensates will contribute to the formation of atmospheric secondary organic aerosols and atmospheric solid nanoplastic particles. Lastly, selected components expected in the condensates were quantified and found to be present at high concentrations (1-20 mg L-1) that may exceed regulatory limits.

Molecular characteristics of ambient organic aerosols in Shanghai winter before and after the COVID-19 outbreak

During the global pandemic of COVID-19, the world adopted different strategies to avoid the human and economic loss, and so does China. The reduction of human activities during this time period caused reduction in PM emissions. This study adopted a HPLC-Q-TOF-MS to compare the chemical compositions of ambient aerosol samples collected in Shanghai winter before (2018, 2019) and after (2021) the COVID-19 outbreak. The identified compositions were classified into subgroups of CHO, CHN, CHON, CHONS, CHOS and CHN compounds. Results showed that CHO compounds and CHON compounds were dominating the organic compounds in ESI- and ESI+, respectively. The average percentages of CHO- compounds were 57.97 % in 2018, 58.98 % in 2019, and 43.93 % in 2021, respectively. The average percentages of CHON+ compounds were 52.74 % in 2018, 50.34 % in 2019, and 52.02 % in 2021, respectively. The proportion of aliphatic compounds increased gradually during the three years, especially in 2021, indicating that CHO compounds were less affected by aromatic precursors after the COVID-19 outbreak. The contribution of anthropogenic emissions in Shanghai was weakened compared with the previous years. In addition, there was an enhanced emission source containing hydroxyl for CHOS compound formation in 2021. The variations of atmospheric oxidation degree among the three years were not significant.

Organic synthesis in the study of terpene-derived oxidation products in the atmosphere

Covering: 1997 up to 2022Volatile biogenic terpenes involved in the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) particles participate in rich atmospheric chemistry that impacts numerous aspects of the earth's complex climate system. Despite the importance of these species, understanding their fate in the atmosphere and determining their atmospherically-relevant properties has been limited by the availability of authentic standards and probe molecules. Advances in synthetic organic chemistry directly aimed at answering these questions have, however, led to exciting discoveries at the interface of chemistry and atmospheric science. Herein we provide a review of the literature regarding the synthesis of commercially unavailable authentic standards used to analyze the composition, properties, and mechanisms of SOA particles in the atmosphere.

The light absorbing and molecule characteristic of PM2.5 brown carbon observed in urban Shanghai

Both brown carbon (BrC) and the non-absorbing components coated on black carbon (BC) aerosols can enhance the light absorption of BC aerosols. BrC is a complicated mixture of organic compounds and not well characterized, which hinders exploring the links between BrC and optical properties. We conducted an in-depth field study on optical properties of ambient aerosols at a monitoring site in Shanghai, China via real-time monitoring and offline analysis. Results showed that BrC caused light absorption coefficients were 3.3 ± 3.3 Mm^-1, 2.2 ± 5.0 Mm^-1, 1.2 ± 1.2 Mm^-1 at λ = 370, 470 and 520 nm, respectively, accounting for 11%, 10%, 6% of the total aerosol absorption for the corresponding wavelengths. A larger proportion of long-chain aliphatic organosulfates (OSs, C_nH_2n+2O₄S, (CH₂)_nO₅S, (CH₂)_nO₆S) with double bond equivalent (DBE) values of 0 or 1 accounted for 5-20% of the light absorption (λ = 365 nm) for soluble brown carbon (BrC), which were dominating for the days with less N-containing aromatic compounds appearing. Furthermore, the structure of C_nH_2n+2O₄S, (CH₂)_nO₅S, (CH₂)_nO₆S were explored using target MS/MS of HPLC-Q-ToF-MS: (CH₂)_nO₅S series, the most abundant family of OSs, were constructed by functionalizing a saturated hydrocarbon with one sulfate and one carbonyl group. C_nH_2n+2O₄S series were oxidized with only one sulfate group in the aliphatic chain R. (CH₂)_nO₆S series were proposed as aliphatic OSs with one ester group. We speculated aliphatic OSs were formed via acid catalyzed perhydrolysis of hydroperoxides derived from long-chain alkanes releasing from diesel fueled vehicles, followed by the reaction with sulfate anion radicals. Therefore, relevant technologies should be further explored to reduce the impacts from vehicle emissions.

Fractionation and characterization of dissolved organic matter using solid-phase extraction followed by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry with electrospray, atmospheric pressure photoionization, and laser desorption ionization

RATIONALE

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) combined with different ionization techniques provides a powerful means to characterize dissolved organic matter (DOM) at the molecular level. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) is currently the most widely utilized method for extracting the DOM, but one-step elution using methanol does not provide a comprehensive picture of DOM. The development of efficient extraction and enrichment methods as well as characterization techniques from water samples remains a priority for DOM research, which is investigated in this study.

METHODS

The DOM was extracted from lake water by SPE using one-step elution (methanol or dichloromethane) and multistep elution (water, methanol, acetone, and dichloromethane). A combination of electrospray ionization (ESI), atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI), and matrix-free laser desorption ionization (LDI) was utilized for FT-ICR MS analysis in both positive (+) and negative (-) ion modes.

RESULTS

The total recovery of the multistep elution was 23.5% higher as compared to the investigated one-step elution procedure (85% vs. 61.6%); however, a comparison of the observed molecular species and the range of diversity under different ionization techniques along with the statistical analyses showed that proper selection of solvent and ionization method was required to explore specific compounds from the sample.

CONCLUSIONS

For DOM species containing different heteroatoms, a combination of ESI, APPI, and LDI can offer a comprehensive profile of DOM in aquatic ecosystems. The specific molecular formulae of each ionization technique are characterized as follows: ESI- mode exhibited strong selectivity for lignin-like and tannins-like species with high oxygen content, as well as organosulfates. ESI+ favored lipid species and peptide/protein compounds. Unsaturated and condensed aromatic hydrocarbons with low oxygen were preferably ionized by both APPI and LDI.

Dwindling aromatic compounds in fine aerosols from chunk coal to honeycomb briquette combustion

With the implementation of clean coal policy in China, the chunk coal has been gradually replaced by honeycomb briquette in domestic energies. In this study, the molecular composition of fine particles (PM_2.5) from chunk coal and honeycomb briquette combustion is characterized using the Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS). More than 6000 molecular formulae were detected in each PM_2.5 sample. A remarkable decrease in unsaturation and aromatic compounds was found from chunk coal to honeycomb briquette derived aerosols. Around 73.6% of the unique CHON compounds in chunk coal are considered to have aromatic structures, while it decreased to 7.3% in honeycomb briquette. Most of these nitroaromatics detected only in chunk coal are highly carcinogenic and mutagenic with 4-6 rings. Moreover, the aromatic compounds in sulfur-containing compounds also showed a significant decrease. Meanwhile, because of the perforated shape and the additives added during the production of honeycomb briquettes, there are more heteroatoms-containing molecules released from honeycomb briquette combustion, which are highly functional compounds with high molecular weight, high degree of oxidation, and low volatility. Our results provide molecular level evidence that the transformation from chunk coal to honeycomb briquette can effectively reduce the emission of aromatic compounds, which is beneficial to assessing and reducing the impacts to climate change as well as human health.

Study on heterogeneous OH oxidation of 3-methyltetraol sulfate in the atmosphere under high NO conditions

Organosulfates (OSs), also known as organic sulfate esters, are ubiquitous in atmospheric particles and used as secondary organic aerosol (SOA) markers. However, the chemical transformation mechanism of these OSs remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the heterogeneous OH oxidation of 3-methyltetraol sulfate (3-MTS), which is one of the most abundant particulate organosulfates, by using quantum chemical and kinetic calculations. 3-MTS can easily undergo abstraction reaction with OH radicals, and the reaction rate constant is about 7.87 × 10-12 cm3 per molecule per s. The generated HCOOH, CH3COOH, HCHO, CH3CHO and 2-methyl-2,3-dihydroxypropionic acid are low-volatility species with increased water solubility, which are the main components of SOA. In addition, the OH radicals obtained from the reaction can continue to promote the oxidation reaction. The results of this study provide insights into the heterogeneous OH reactivity of other organosulfates in atmospheric aerosols, and it also provides a new understanding of the conversion of sulfur (S) between its organic and inorganic forms during the heterogeneous OH oxidation of organic sulfates.

Characterizing Atmospheric Brown Carbon and Its Emission Sources during Wintertime in Shanghai, China

Atmospheric brown carbon (BrC) is a kind of organic aerosol that efficiently absorbs ultraviolet-visible light and has an impact on climate forcing. We conducted an in-depth field study on ambient aerosols at a monitoring point in Shanghai, China, aiming to investigate the potential emission sources, molecular structures, and the contributions to light absorptions of ambient BrC chromophores. The results indicated that nine molecules were identified as nitroaromatic compounds, five of which (4-nitrophenol, 4-nitrocatechol, 2-nitro-1-naphthol, 3-methyl-4-nitrocatechol, and 2-methyl-4-nitrophenol) usually came from biomass burning or were produced from the photo-oxidation of anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (e.g., toluene, benzene) under high-NOx conditions. 4-nitrophenol was the strongest BrC chromophore and accounted for 13% of the total aerosol light absorption at λ = 365 nm. The estimated light absorption of black carbon was approximately three times the value of methanol-soluble BrC at λ = 365 nm. The ratios of K+/OC and K+/EC, and the correlations with WSOC, OC, HULIS-C and K+, and MAE values of methanol extracts also indicated that the primary emissions from biomass burning contributed more aerosol light absorption compared to the secondary formation during the wintertime in Shanghai. Therefore, biomass burning control is still the most urgent strategy for reducing BrC in Shanghai.

Nontarget Screening Exhibits a Seasonal Cycle of PM2.5 Organic Aerosol Composition in Beijing

The molecular composition of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) in the urban environment is complex, and it remains a challenge to identify its sources and formation pathways. Here, we report the seasonal variation of the molecular composition of organic aerosols (OA), based on 172 PM_2.5 filter samples collected in Beijing, China, from February 2018 to March 2019. We applied a hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) on a large nontarget-screening data set and found a strong seasonal difference in the OA chemical composition. Molecular fingerprints of the major compound clusters exhibit a unique molecular pattern in the Van Krevelen-space. We found that summer OA in Beijing features a higher degree of oxidation and a higher proportion of organosulfates (OSs) in comparison to OA during wintertime, which exhibits a high contribution from (nitro-)aromatic compounds. OSs appeared with a high intensity in summer-haze conditions, indicating the importance of anthropogenic enhancement of secondary OA in summer Beijing. Furthermore, we quantified the contribution of the four main compound clusters to total OA using surrogate standards. With this approach, we are able to explain a small fraction of the OA (∼11-14%) monitored by the Time-of-Flight Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (ToF-ACSM). However, we observe a strong correlation between the sum of the quantified clusters and OA measured by the ToF-ACSM, indicating that the identified clusters represent the major variability of OA seasonal cycles. This study highlights the potential of using nontarget screening in combination with HCA for gaining a better understanding of the molecular composition and the origin of OA in the urban environment.

PM2.5-bound organosulfates in two Eastern Mediterranean cities: The dominance of isoprene organosulfates

PM_2.5 samples were collected during 2017-2018 at two Eastern Mediterranean urban sites in Greece, Athens and Patra, in order to study the abundances, the seasonal trends, the sources and the possible impact of gas phase pollutants on organosulfate formation. Each of the studied groups, except that of aromatic organosulfates, presented higher concentrations in Patra compared to those measured in Athens, from 1.1 (nitro-oxy organosulfates) to 3.6 times (isoprene organosulfates). At both sites, isoprene organosulfates was the dominant group which accounted on average for more than 50% of the total measured organosulfates, with the contribution being more than 80% during summer. Strong seasonality was observed at both sites, regarding the isoprene organosulfates, with an almost 21-fold increase from winter to summer. The same pattern, but to a lesser extent, was also observed for monoterpenes organosulfates at both sites. Alkyl organosulfates followed an identical seasonal trend with the highest mean concentrations observed during spring followed by autumn. The seasonality of anthropogenic organosulfates, multisource organosulfates and nitro-oxy organosulfates differed among the two sites or presented a more compound-specific variation. The isoprene-epoxydiol pathway appeared to be the dominant pathway of isoprene transformation, with the compounds iOS211, iOS213 and iOS215 being the major isoprene organosulfate compounds at both sites. Organosulfate contribution to the concentration of particulate matter presented common variation at both sites, ranging from 0.20 ± 0.14% (winter) to 2.5 ± 1.2% (summer) and from 0.21 ± 0.13% (winter) to 5.0 ± 2.5% (summer) for Athens and Patra, respectively. The increased NO_x levels in Athens, appeared to affect isoprene organosulfate formation as well as the formation of monoterpene and decalin nitro-oxy organosulfates. Principal component analysis followed by multiple linear regression analysis highlighted the dominance of isoprene organosulfates. In Athens, the possible impact of transportation emissions on the formation of monoterpene nitro-oxy organosulfates is indicated while the correlation of naphthalene organosulfates with low molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons suggests that vehicle emissions may be a significant source. In Patra, the possible contribution of sea on methyl sulfate levels is denoted.

Applications and advancements of FT-ICR-MS for interactome studies

The set of all intra- and intermolecular interactions, collectively known as the interactome, is currently an unmet challenge for any analytical method, but if measured, could provide unparalleled insight on molecular function in living systems. Developments and applications of chemical cross-linking and high-performance mass spectrometry technologies are beginning to reveal details on how proteins interact in cells and how protein conformations and interactions inside cells change with phenotype or during drug treatment or other perturbations. A major contributor to these advances is Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) technology and its implementation with accurate mass measurements on cross-linked peptide-pair precursor and fragment ions to enable improved identification methods. However, these applications place increased demands on mass spectrometer performance in terms of high-resolution spectral acquisition rates for on-line MSn experiments. Moreover, FT-ICR-MS also offers unique opportunities to develop and implement parallel ICR cells for multiplexed signal acquisition and the potential to greatly advance accurate mass acquisition rates for interactome studies. This review highlights our efforts to exploit accurate mass FT-ICR-MS technologies with chemical cross-linking and developments being pursued to realize parallel MS array capabilities that will further advance visualization of the interactome.

Molecular chemodiversity of water-soluble organic matter in atmospheric particulate matter and their associations with atmospheric conditions

Water-soluble organic matter (WSOM) is a complex mixture of organic compounds affecting global climate change and carbon cycle. Herein, Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) was used for identification of WSOM molecular compositions in annual atmospheric particulate matter with diameters ≤10 μm (PM₁₀). Totally 6538 unambiguous monoisotopic molecular formulas were assigned to WSOM with m/z values concentrating in 150-600 Da. The CHO compounds with high unsaturation degrees contributed most (51.7-52.1%) to WSOM in spring and summer. However, the S-containing compounds (CHOS and CHNOS) with higher O/C and H/C ratios accounted for 56.8-63.2% of WSOM in autumn and winter. Temperature (r = 0.82) and O₃ (r = 0.89) showed higher correlation with CHO compounds, which were mainly aliphatics and highly unsaturated structures with high oxygen compounds (80.7-90.8%). The concentrations of SO₄^2- (r = 0.33) and NO₃^- (r = 0.46) in PM₁₀ both showed a positive correlation with the abundances of the S-containing compounds due to their direct participation in atmospheric reactions. Among them, 96-100% and 78-96% of the CHOS and CHNOS compounds were confirmed to be organosulfates (OSs) and nitrooxy-organosulfates (NOSs) by MS/MS analysis, respectively. These findings illustrate the strong association of atmospheric conditions with molecular chemodiversity of WSOM.

Imaging and Direct Sampling Capabilities of Nanospray Desorption Electrospray Ionization with Absorption-Mode 21 Tesla Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry

Nanospray desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, a powerful ambient sampling and imaging technique, is herein coupled as an isolated source with 21 Tesla (21T) Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR MS). Absorption-mode data, enabled by an external data acquisition system, is applied for improved mass resolution, accuracy, and dynamic range without compromising spectral acquisition rates. Isotopic fine structure (IFS) information is obtained from the ambient sampling of living Bacillus and Fusarium species, allowing for high confidence in molecular annotations with a resolution >830 k (at m/z 825). Tandem mass spectrometry experiments for biological samples are shown to retain the IFS in addition to gained fragmentation information, providing a further degree of annotation confidence from ambient analyses. Rat brain was imaged by nanospray desorption electrospray ionization (nano-DESI) 21T FTICR MS in ∼5 h using 768 ms transients, producing over 800 molecular annotations using the METASPACE platform and low-parts-per-billion mass accuracy at a spatial resolution of ∼25 × 180 μm. Finally, nano-DESI 21T FTICR MS imaging is demonstrated to reveal images corresponding to the IFS, as well as hundreds of additional molecular features (including demonstrated differences as low as 8.96 mDa) that are otherwise undetected by a more conventional imaging methodology.

Abundance of organosulfates derived from biogenic volatile organic compounds: Seasonal and spatial contrasts at four sites in China

Atmospheric organosulfates (OSs) derived from biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) encode chemical interaction strength between anthroposphere and biosphere. We report BVOC-derived OSs in the summer of 2016 and the winter of 2017 at four locations in China (i.e., Hong Kong (HK), Guangzhou (GZ), Shanghai (SH), and Beijing (BJ)). The spatial coverage of three climatic zones from the south to the north in China is accompanied with a wide range of aerosol inorganic sulfate (4.9-13.8 μg/m³). We employed a combined targeted and untargeted approach using high-performance liquid chromatography-Orbitrap mass spectrometry to quantify/semi-quantify ~200 OSs and nitrooxy OSs derived from four types of precursors, namely C₂-C₃ oxygenated VOCs, isoprene, monoterpenes (MT), and sesquiterpenes (ST). The seasonal averages of the total quantified OSs across the four sites are in the range of 201-545 (summer) and 123-234 ng/m³ (winter), with the isoprene-derived OSs accounting for more than 80% (summer) and 57% (winter). The C_2-3 OSs and isoprene-derived OSs share the same seasonality (summer >winter) and the same south-north spatial gradient as those of isoprene emissions. In contrast, the MT- and ST-derived OSs are of either comparable abundance or slightly higher abundance in winter at the four sites. The spatial contrasts for MT- and ST-derived OSs are not clearly discernable among GZ, SH, and BJ. HK is noted to have invariably lower abundances of all groups of OSs, in line with its aerosol inorganic sulfate being the lowest. These results indicate that BVOC emissions are the driving factor regulating the formation of C_2-3 OSs and isoprene-derived OSs. Other factors, such as sulfate abundance, however, play a more important role in the formation of MT- and ST-derived OSs. This in turn suggests that the formation kinetics and/or pathways differ between these two sub-groups of BVOCs-derived OSs.

Molecular characterization of atmospheric particulate organosulfates in a port environment using ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry: Identification of traffic emissions

Organosulfates (OSs) are an important component of atmospheric organic aerosol (OA) and are widespread in various environments. However, the OSs generated from anthropogenic emissions are poorly understood. In this study, the molecular compositions of OSs from atmospheric PM_2.5 samples collected during a winter measurement campaign (SEISO-Bohai) at Jingtang Harbor were characterized via ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry (UHRMS). The changes of port OS compositions were observed in episodes of complete haze pollution. As the pollution aggravated, the relative abundances of OSs were apparently increased, and the molecule compositions became more complex, primarily driven by the oxidation and fragmentation processes. Potential OS precursors from traffic emissions were identified based on an optimized "OS precursor map" developed in the previous study. OSs characterized by high molecular weights and low degrees of both unsaturation and oxidization were suggested to mainly derive from secondary reactions of intermediate volatile organic compounds (IVOCs) emitted by traffic sources. These OSs were primarily detected in clean-day samples, followed by decreasing with the pollution process. In addition, our study also finds that ship emissions may further facilitated OS productions under haze pollution conditions.

FT-ICR-MS-based metabolomics: A deep dive into plant metabolism

Metabolomics involves the identification and quantification of metabolites to unravel the chemical footprints behind cellular regulatory processes and to decipher metabolic networks, opening new insights to understand the correlation between genes and metabolites. In plants, it is estimated the existence of hundreds of thousands of metabolites and the majority is still unknown. Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) is a powerful analytical technique to tackle such challenges. The resolving power and sensitivity of this ultrahigh mass accuracy mass analyzer is such that a complex mixture, such as plant extracts, can be analyzed and thousands of metabolite signals can be detected simultaneously and distinguished based on the naturally abundant elemental isotopes. In this review, FT-ICR-MS-based plant metabolomics studies are described, emphasizing FT-ICR-MS increasing applications in plant science through targeted and untargeted approaches, allowing for a better understanding of plant development, responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, and the discovery of new natural nutraceutical compounds. Improved metabolite extraction protocols compatible with FT-ICR-MS, metabolite analysis methods and metabolite identification platforms are also explored as well as new in silico approaches. Most recent advances in MS imaging are also discussed.

Analytical methods for organosulfate detection in aerosol particles: Current status and future perspectives

Organosulfates (OSs) are well-known water-soluble constituents of atmospheric aerosol particles. They are formed from multiphase reactions between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and their photooxidation products, and acidic sulfate originating from biogenic and anthropogenic sources in the atmosphere. Although the analytical procedures used to measure OSs, including sampling, pre-treatment, and instrumental detection, have advanced substantially in the last decade, there is still a need for accurate and standardized analysis procedures for the identification, quantification, and comparison of OSs in different regions. Additionally, there has no study focused on the health effects of OSs. This review outlines the analytical methods developed for OS detection during the last decade, highlighting both improvements and drawbacks. It also considers the future development of analytical methods for OS detection, and proposes the establishment of OSs screening method from the perspective of health effects to solve the problem of unknown health related OSs identification.

Application of frequency multiple FT-ICR-MS signal acquisition for improved proteome research

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) coupled with liquid chromatography (LC) is a powerful combination useful in many research areas due to the utility of high mass resolving power and mass measurement accuracy for studying highly complex samples. Ideally, every analyte in a complex sample can be subjected to accurate mass MS/MS analysis to aid in identification. FT-ICR MS can provide high mass resolving power and mass accuracy at the cost of long data acquisition periods, reducing the number of spectra that can be acquired per unit time. Frequency multiple signal acquisition has long been realized as an attractive method to obtain high mass resolving power and mass accuracy with shorter data acquisition periods. However, one of the limitations associated with frequency multiple signal acquisition is reduced signal intensity as compared to a traditional dipole detector. In this study, we demonstrated the use of a novel ICR cell to improve frequency multiple signal intensity and investigated the potential use of frequency multiple acquisition for proteome measurements. This novel ICR cell containing both dipole and frequency multiple detection electrodes was installed on a 7T FT-ICR MS coupled to an LC system. Tryptic digests of HeLa cell lysates were analyzed using dipole and frequency multiple detectors by holding either the mass resolving power or signal acquisition time constant. Compared to dipole detection, second frequency multiple detection yielded 36% or 45% more unique identified peptides from HeLa cell lysates at twice the scan rate or twice the mass resolving power, respectively. These results indicate that frequency multiple signal acquisition with either the same resolving power or the same signal acquisition duration as used with dipole signals can produce a significant increase in the number of peptides identified in complex proteome samples.

Highly Resolved Composition during Diesel Evaporation with Modeled Ozone and Secondary Aerosol Formation: Insights into Pollutant Formation from Evaporative Intermediate Volatility Organic Compound Sources

As stricter regulations continue to reduce vehicular emissions, other emission sources such as evaporative emissions from road building and volatile consumer products have become more important in overall pollutant forming emissions in many urban areas. Emission regulations have historically targeted volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to reduce ozone, but intermediate volatility organic compounds (IVOCs) also contribute to ozone formation and the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) that often dominates fine particulate matter. Emission rates and pollutant formation from IVOCs are not well constrained in current inventories and models. This study uses diesel fuel as a representative IVOC mixture in evaporation tests performed in a wind tunnel under varying wind speeds and liquid diesel temperatures. Comprehensive composition measurements guided the development of a model to determine rates of evaporation and estimate pollutant production. Results show that reducing IVOC emissions can result in significant reductions in ozone formation, in addition to the expected reductions in SOA formation, and that IVOC emissions can continue over the course of a month. Ozone formation from IVOC emissions is equal to that from VOCs after 3 days of evaporation at 0.65 g-ozone/g-diesel released. SOA formation is dominated by IVOCs, reaching 0.2 g-SOA/g-diesel released after 30 days.

Detection of organosulfates and nitrooxy-organosulfates in Arctic and Antarctic atmospheric aerosols, using ultra-high resolution FT-ICR mass spectrometry

Organosulfates (OSs) are recognized as important secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) in recent years. Due to their amphipathy and light absorptive capacity, OSs may potentially impact climate. Moreover, OSs can serve as molecular tracers for precursors and multiple processes leading to the generation of SOA. However, studies on OSs are lacking in the polar regions which limits our understanding of both their formation pathways and impacts on the polar environment. Here we present the first investigation into OSs in both the Arctic and Antarctic. Organic compounds in aerosol samples collected from the polar regions during the 2013/2014 Chinese National Arctic/Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE) were analyzed by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) coupled with negative ion mode electrospray ionization (ESI(-)). Hundreds to thousands of OSs were detected at the polar sampling sites. The estimated total concentrations of OSs were in the range of 46-670 ng/m³ in the Arctic sampling area, and 47-260 ng/m³ in the Antarctic sampling area, accounting for 1-16% of total OM. OSs were found to have undergone a high degree of oxidation in the aerosol samples, which might be due to the combined effects of enhanced photo-oxidation in summertime or continuous oxidation during transport to the polar region. The potential appointment of OS precursors highlights the important role of long-range air-mass transport on the OSs derived from biogenic precursors and a notably large contribution from anthropogenic emissions, suggesting that human activities have significant impacts in remote polar environments. The results of this study provide important insights into the characteristics of OSs in the polar atmosphere. However, the need for further research focusing on the quantification, formation mechanisms and impacts of OSs on climate is emphasized.

A DFT study of the adsorption energy and electronic interactions of the SO2 molecule on a CoP hydrotreating catalyst

The adsorption energy and electronic properties of sulfur dioxide (SO2) adsorbed on different low-Miller index cobalt phosphide (CoP) surfaces were examined using density functional theory (DFT). Different surface atomic terminations and initial molecular orientations were systematically investigated in detail to determine the most active and stable surface for use as a hydrotreating catalyst. It was found that the surface catalytic reactivity of CoP and its performance were highly sensitive to the crystal plane, where the surface orientation/termination had a remarkable impact on the interfacial chemical bonding and electronic states toward the adsorption of the SO2 molecule. Specifically, analysis of the surface energy adsorption revealed that SO2 on Co-terminated surfaces, especially in (010), (101) and (110) facets, is energetically more favorable compared to other low index surfaces. Charge density difference, density of states (DOS) and Gibbs free energy studies were also carried out to further understand the bonding mechanism and the electronic interactions with the adsorbate. It is anticipated that the current findings will support experimental research towards the design of catalysts for SO2 hydrodesulfurization based on cobalt phosphide nanoparticles.

Radical-Initiated Formation of Aromatic Organosulfates and Sulfonates in the Aqueous Phase

Aromatic organosulfates and sulfonates have recently been observed in ambient aerosols collected in urban sites. Anthropogenic volatile organic compounds including aromatics are considered as their precursors in the atmosphere, but the mechanism for the formation of these compounds is still not adequately understood. In the present study, we investigated the aqueous phase reactions of benzoic acid with sulfite in the presence of Fe³⁺ under various conditions. Aromatic organosulfates and sulfonates [hereafter called aromatic organosulfur compounds (AOSCs)] can be formed during the reaction. The yield was measured as 7.3 ± 0.6%, suggesting that the formation of AOSCs may provide an additional pathway for the fate of benzoic acid in the atmosphere. The mechanism for AOSC formation is proposed to be through the combination of organic radical intermediates with sulfoxy radicals, that is, SO₃^- and SO₄^- radicals. In addition to benzoic acid, other monocyclic aromatics (i.e., benzene, toluene, salicylic acid, benzyl alcohol, and phenol) can also undergo analogous mechanisms to produce various AOSCs. Interestingly, AOSC formation through this pathway can retain the aromatic ring of parent aromatics, shedding light on the fact that monocyclic aromatics can also serve as the hitherto unrecognized precursors of AOSCs in the atmosphere. Our findings provide new insights into potential sources and pathways for AOSC formation in the atmosphere.

Molecular composition and sources of water-soluble organic aerosol in summer in Beijing

Water-soluble organic aerosol (WSOA) constitutes a large fraction of OA and plays an important role in formation of secondary OA (SOA). Here we characterized the sources and molecular composition of WSOA in summer in Beijing using high-resolution aerosol mass spectrometer and orbitrap mass spectrometer equipped with electrospray ionization. Our results showed that WSOA was the major fraction of OA on average accounting for 69% in summer, which is much higher than that (47%) in winter. However, the oxidation degree of WSOA was comparable between summer and winter (O/C = 0.62 vs. 0.63). Positive matrix factorization analysis showed that SOA contributed dominantly to WSOA (72%) indicating that WSOA was mainly from secondary formation. The two water-soluble SOA factors that are associated with regional processing (OOA-1) and photochemical production (OOA-2), respectively, showed very different behaviors throughout the study. OOA-2 showed much enhanced contribution during polluted periods with low relative humidity (RH), while OOA-1 played a more important role during high RH periods. Molecular composition analysis of WSOA revealed a high diversity of CHO (compounds only containing carbon, hydrogen and oxygen) and CHOS (sulfur-containing organics) in WSOA in summer. Particularly, the relative intensity fraction of CHOS- compounds was increased by 42% from clean to polluted days which was associated with large increases (20%) in organosulfates (OSs) with lower O∗/C (0.1-0.4), and OOA-1. These results suggest the formation of more unsaturated OSs in OOA-1 during polluted days in summer. Comparatively, the biogenic-derived OSs remained relatively stable (24-31%) for the entire study highlighting the ubiquitous importance of biogenic SOA in summer.

Effects of NOx and SO2 on the secondary organic aerosol formation from the photooxidation of 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene: A new source of organosulfates

1,3,5-Trimethylbeneze (TMB) is an important constituent of anthropogenic volatile organic compounds that contributes to the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). A series of chamber experiments were performed to probe the effects of NO_x and SO₂ on SOA formation from TMB photooxidation. The molecular composition of TMB SOA was investigated by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization high-resolution quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/ESI-HR-Q-TOFMS). We found that the SOA yield increases notably with elevated NO_x concentrations under low-NO_x condition ([TMB]₀/[NO_x]₀ > 10 ppbC ppb^-1), while an opposite trend is observed in high-NO_x experiments ([TMB]₀/[NO_x]₀ < 10 ppbC ppb^-1). The increase in SOA yield in low-NO_x regime is attributed to the increase of NO_x-induced OH concentrations. The formation of low-volatility species might be suppressed, thereby leading to a lower SOA yield in high-NO_x conditions. Moreover, SOA formation was promoted in experiment with SO₂ addition. Multifunctional products containing carbonyl, acid, alcohol, and nitrate functional groups were characterized in TMB/NO_x photooxidation, whereas several organosulfates (OSs) and nitrooxy organosulfates were identified in TMB/NO_x/SO₂ photooxidation based on HR-Q-TOFMS analysis. The formation mechanism relevant to the detected compounds in SOA were proposed. Based on our measurements, the photooxidation of TMB in the presence of SO₂ may be a new source of OSs in the atmosphere. The results presented here also deepen the understanding of SOA formation under relatively complex polluted environments.

Organosulfates in Ambient Aerosol: State of Knowledge and Future Research Directions on Formation, Abundance, Fate, and Importance

Organosulfates (OSs), also referred to as organic sulfate esters, are well-known and ubiquitous constituents of atmospheric aerosol particles. Commonly, they are assumed to form upon mixing of air masses of biogenic and anthropogenic origin, that is, through multiphase reactions between organic compounds and acidic sulfate particles. However, in contrast to this simplified picture, recent studies suggest that OSs may also originate from purely anthropogenic precursors or even directly from biomass and fossil fuel burning. Moreover, besides classical OS formation pathways, several alternative routes have been discovered, suggesting that OS formation possibly occurs through a wider variety of formation mechanisms in the atmosphere than initially expected. During the past decade, OSs have reached a constantly growing attention within the atmospheric science community with evermore studies reporting on large numbers of OS species in ambient aerosol. Nonetheless, estimates on OS concentrations and implications on atmospheric physicochemical processes are still connected to large uncertainties, calling for combined field, laboratory, and modeling studies. In this Critical Review, we summarize the current state of knowledge in atmospheric OS research, discuss unresolved questions, and outline future research needs, also in view of reductions of anthropogenic sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions. Particularly, we focus on (1) field measurements of OSs and measurement techniques, (2) formation pathways of OSs and their atmospheric relevance, (3) transformation, reactivity, and fate of OSs in atmospheric particles, and (4) modeling efforts of OS formation and their global abundance.

A Comprehensive Nontarget Analysis for the Molecular Reconstruction of Organic Aerosol Composition from Glacier Ice Cores

Ice cores are climate archives suitable for the reconstruction of past atmospheric composition changes. Ice core analysis provides valuable insight into the chemical nature of aerosols and enables constraining emission inventories of primary emissions and of gas-phase precursors. Changes in the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can affect formation rates and mechanisms as well as chemical composition of aerosols during the preindustrial era, key information for understanding aerosol climate effects. Here, we present an analytical method for the reconstruction of organic aerosol composition preserved in glacier ice cores. A solid-phase-extraction method, optimized toward oxidation products of biogenic VOCs, provides an enrichment factor of ∼200 and quantitative recovery for compounds of interest. We applied the preconcentration method on ice core samples from the high-alpine Fiescherhorn glacier (Swiss Alps), and used high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry as a sensitive detection method. We describe a nontarget analysis that screens for organic molecules in the ice core samples. We evaluate the atmospheric origin of the detected compounds in the ice by molecular-resolved comparison with airborne particulate matter samples from the nearby high-alpine research station Jungfraujoch. The presented method is able to shed light upon the history of the evolution of organic aerosol composition in the anthropocene, a research field in paleoclimatology with considerable potential.

Characterization of Gas and Particulate Phase Organic Emissions (C9-C37) from a Diesel Engine and the Effect of Abatement Devices

Particulate and vapor phase emissions in the diluted exhaust of a light-duty diesel engine designed for Euro 5 application have been sampled. The engine was operated in three modes, and samples were collected from the exhaust without aftertreatment but also with aftertreatment by an exhaust oxidation catalyst and particle filter. The samples were analyzed by two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectral detection. The results show overall removal efficiencies for the organic compound mass by the combination of oxidation catalyst and particle filter of 50, 56, and 74% for the high-speed/high-load, low-speed/low-load, and high-speed/low-load conditions respectively. The results are clearly indicative of substantial repartitioning of the particulate and vapor components within the abatement devices and show an apparently reduced efficiency for the removal of high-molecular-weight alkanes under high-speed/high-load conditions relative to lower-molecular-weight compounds, although this may be due to alkane formation by thermocracking of other species. A notable feature is the presence of oxygenated compounds in the emissions, which are not present in the fuel. These are increased under high-speed/high-load conditions, and the results suggest the formation in the aftertreatment devices as well as in the combustion process.

Molecular characterization of water-soluble organic compounds in PM2.5 using ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry

Water-soluble organic compounds (WSOCs) are a complex mixture of organic components with a variety of chemicals structures that may have significant impacts on the formation process and health hazards of atmospheric fine particles. In this study, the molecular characteristics of WSOCs in PM_2.5 were investigated using ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry. In total 7389 compounds in PM_2.5 water extracts were identified, including CHO^±, CHOS^±, CHON^±, CHONS^±, CH⁺, CHS⁺, CHN⁺ and CHNS⁺ species. CHO^± and CHON^± were the major components in PM_2.5 water extracts. S-containing compounds detected in both ionization modes were observed with distinct molecular characteristics. Selective partitioning of WSOCs between PM_2.5 water extracts and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS, log D_PDMS = 0.51-3.87) coating phases was found, which was significantly correlated with molecular characteristic (i.e. double-bond equivalent, number of O and H atoms, O/C ratios, and aromaticity equivalent). The extent of accumulation for negatively charged compounds was generally lower, which related to the existence of polar functional groups, such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, nitrate, and sulfate, as observed by MS/MS fragmentation analysis.

Size-Segregated Chemical Compositions of HULISs in Ambient Aerosols Collected during the Winter Season in Songdo, South Korea

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the molecular compositions of humic-like substances (HULISs) in size-resolved ambient aerosols, which were collected using an Anderson-type air sampler (eight size cuts between 0.43 and 11 μm) during the winter season (i.e., the heating period of 8–12 January 2018) in Songdo, South Korea. The aerosol samples collected during the pre- (preheating, 27 November–1 December 2017) and post-winter (postheating, 12–16 March 2018) periods were used as controls for the winter season samples. According to the concentrations of the chromophoric organics determined at an ultraviolet (UV) wavelength of 305 nm, most of the HULIS compounds were found to be predominantly enriched in particles less than 2.1 μm regardless of the sampling period, which shows that particulate matter (diameter less than 2.5 μm; PM2.5) aerosols were the dominant carriers of airborne organics. Ultrahigh-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (UHR FT–ICR MS) analysis of the aerosol-carried organic substances revealed that as the aerosol size increased the proportions of CHO and nitrogen-containing CHO (CHON) compounds decreased, while the proportion of sulfur-containing CHO (CHOS) species increased. In particular, the ambient aerosols during the heating period seemed to present more CHO and CHON and less CHOS molecules compared to aerosols collected during the pre- and postheating periods. The aerosols collected during the heating period also exhibited more aromatic nitrogen-containing compounds, which may have originated from primary combustion processes. Overall, the particle size distribution was likely influenced by source origins; smaller particles are likely from local sources, such as traffic and industries, and larger particles (i.e., aged particles) are likely derived from long-range transport generating secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) in the atmosphere. The results of the size-segregated particles can be utilized to understand particle formation mechanisms and shed light on their toxicity to human health.

Detailed Speciation of Intermediate Volatility and Semivolatile Organic Compound Emissions from Gasoline Vehicles: Effects of Cold-Starts and Implications for Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation

Over the past two decades vehicle emission standards in the United States have been dramatically tightened with the goal of reducing urban air pollution. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is the dominant contributor to urban organic aerosol. Experiments were conducted at the California Air Resources Board Haagen-Smit Laboratory to characterize exhaust organics from 20 gasoline vehicles recruited from the California in-use fleet. The vehicles spanned a wide range of emission certification standards. We comprehensively characterized intermediate volatility and semivolatile organic compound emissions using thermal desorption two-dimensional gas-chromatography-mass-spectrometry with electron impact (GC × GC-EI-MS) and vacuum-ultraviolet (GC × GC-VUV-MS) ionization. Single-ring aromatic compounds with unsaturated C4 and C5 substituents contribute a large fraction of the intermediate volatility organic compound (IVOC) emissions in gasoline vehicle exhaust. The analyses of quartz filters used in GC × GC-VUV-MS show that primary organic aerosol emissions were dominated by motor oil. We combined our new emissions data with published SOA yield parametrizations to estimate SOA formation potential. After 24 h of oxidation, IVOC emissions contributed 45% of  SOA formation;  BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, xylenes, and ethylbenzene), 40%;  other VOC aromatics, 15%. The composition of IVOC emissions was consistent across the test fleet, suggesting that future reductions in vehicular emissions will continue to reduce SOA formation and ambient particulate mass levels.

Effects of NOx, SO2 and RH on the SOA formation from cyclohexene photooxidation

We performed a laboratory investigation of the secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from cyclohexene photooxidation with different initial NOx and SO₂ concentrations at low and high relative humidity (RH). Both SOA yield and number concentration first increase drastically and then, decreased when the [VOC]₀/[NOx]₀ ratio changed from 30 to 10 and from 10 to 3. Though the presence of SO₂ could increase the SOA number concentration, the SOA yield could only increase under [VOC]₀/[NOx]₀ = 10 and high RH, and [VOC]₀/[NOx]₀ = 3 and low RH experimental conditions, while decreasing under [VOC]₀/[NOx]₀ = 10 and low RH conditions. In the presence of SO₂, the high RH and high NOx conditions were keys to efficient sulfate formation and could promote the SOA formation. The chemical composition of SOA was characterized using hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometer equipped with electrospray ionization (ESI-Q-Orbitrap-HRMS), and few organosulfates were identified. A visible enhancement of organosulfates and the formation of high molecular weight organic compounds were observed at high RH conditions, and this seemed to be the reason for the SOA yield increase at high RH.

Emissions During and Real-world Frequency of Heavy-duty Diesel Particulate Filter Regeneration

Recent tightening of particulate matter (PM) emission standards for heavy-duty engines has spurred the widespread adoption of diesel particulate filters (DPFs), which need to be regenerated periodically to remove trapped PM. The total impact of DPFs therefore depends not only on their filtering efficiency during normal operation, but also on the emissions during and the frequency of regeneration events. We performed active (parked and driving) and passive regenerations on two heavy-duty diesel vehicles (HDDVs), and report the chemical composition of emissions during these events, as well as the efficiency with which trapped PM is converted to gas-phase products. We also collected activity data from 85 HDDVs to determine how often regeneration occurs during real-world operation. PM emitted during regeneration ranged from 0.2 to 16.3 g, and the average time and distance between real-world active regenerations was 28.0 h and 599 miles. These results indicate that regeneration of real-world DPFs does not substantially offset the reduction of PM by DPFs during normal operation. The broad ranges of regeneration frequency per truck (3-100 h and 23-4078 miles) underscore the challenges in designing engines and associated aftertreatments that reduce emissions for all real-world duty cycles.