TS 4. Mass Spectrometric Characterization of Aerosol Composition

Presented by: Rachel O’Brien

Location: La Cienega

Abstract: The chemical properties of atmospheric aerosol particles impact their role on the climate and air quality. Tremendous progress has been made recently that advances our ability to measure the components of aerosol particles both in the field and the laboratory. This tutorial will review methods for both on-line and off-line aerosol analysis with mass spectrometry. A focus will be placed on real-time measurement methods with the aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS) along with offline characterization with the AMS and other complementary techniques.

Topics will include instrument components used in aerosol mass spectrometers including vacuum systems, inlets, and ionization sources. Mass spectrometer types and their characteristics will also be compared for the AMS and across different offline mass spectrometry options. This tutorial will also review current lab and field measurements and provide a brief introduction to data processing from AMS measurements.

Bio: Rachel O’Brien is an Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Michigan. Her primary research interests have focused on characterizing complex organic mixtures with mass spectrometry techniques with a focus on aerosol particles and indoor surface films. Rachel currently serves as the secretary elect for AAAR and has been awarded an NSF CAREER award. She received her Ph.D. in Chemistry from UC Berkeley, and she worked as a postdoc at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and MIT. She joined the faculty as an assistant professor in the chemistry department at William & Mary in 2017 and she moved to the CEE department at the University of Michigan in fall 2022. Email: reobrien@umich.edu