Common biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) released from plants include isoprene (C5H8), monoterpenes (C10H16), and their terpenoid derivatives (i.e. C10H16O). Studies have shown that isoprene may react with nitrogen oxides (NOx) to produce tropospheric ozone in the presence of sunlight. Terpenes also lead to the formation of secondary organic aerosols that contribute to particulate pollution. The large acreage of pine, cedar, oak, and other vegetation in the southeastern U.S. contributes a significant amount of terpenes that play a key role in air quality in this region and are of great interest to atmospheric scientists. This presentation is focused on the development of a method that can reliably measure the levels of both the relatively non-polar monoterpenes and the more polar terpenoid compounds simultaneously. Air samples in a forest setting and gaseous emissions from cut tree branches will be collected using sorbent tubes and canisters before being analyzed by GC-MS. An in-situ derivatization thermal desorption method based on sorbent tubes with functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) has been developed to convert polar terpenes like terpineol, borneol, fenchone, and linalool into more volatile substances in order to improve their analytical sensitivity and reproducibility. The results from both the canister and sorbent tube sampling methods will be compared and the method of in situ derivatization on sorbent tube will be evaluated for its suitability in characterizing the profile of terpenes in regions where tropospheric ozone and secondary organic aerosol directly impact air quality.

In-situ derivatization of polar terpenes on a modified sorbent tube followed by thermal desorption analysis by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)

254th National Meeting (2017)

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