The prevalence of biomass burning organic aerosols (BBOA) is on the rise worldwide through wildfires, agriculture burning and other industrial activities. BBOA has significant effects on the environment and human health; yet, its analysis is complex as it contains hundreds of organic compounds that are not straightforward to identify, extract, or separate into individual components. In this study, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) was used to investigate the smoldering combustion of various soft and hard woods, and examine the molecular links between combustion conditions and the BBOA composition. Different types of wood were burned in a custom smoldering combustion chamber under various combustion conditions, and the smoke aerosols were collected on glass fiber filters. HR-MS spectra of the extracts were analyzed and compared for differences and similarities of the BBOA composition under the different conditions of the study. Tandem mass spectrometry analysis was performed to provide insight into the possible chemical structures of the characterized compounds.

High resolution mass spectrometry analysis of biomass burning organic aerosol composition from different wood fuels and combustion conditions

255th National Meeting (2018)

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