Informal Lunch-time Atmospheric Chemistry Discussion Series
Presented by
MEHRNAZ SARRAFZADEH
November 19, 2013 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
317 Petrie Science and Engineering Building
York University
Method for the determination of concentration and stable carbon isotope ratios of atmospheric phenols
Marina Saccon, Ph.D candidate, is co-author of Method for the determination of concentration and stable carbon isotope ratios of atmospheric phenols published in the Atmospheric Measurement Techniques Journal, an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union, released on November 5 2013.
Marina Saccon presenting thesis
Authors: M. Saccon, R. Busca, C. Facca, L. Huang, S. Irei, A. Kornilova, D. Lane and J. Rudolph
Abstract: A method for the determination of the stable carbon isotopic composition of atmospheric nitrophenols in the gas and particulate phases is presented. It has been proposed to use the combination of concentration and isotope ratio measurements of precursor and product to test the applicability of results of laboratory studies to the atmosphere. Nitrophenols are suspected to be secondary products formed specifically from the photooxidation of volatile organic compounds. XAD-4TM resin was used as an adsorbent on quartz filters to sample ambient phenols using conventional high volume air samplers at York University in Toronto, Canada. Filters were extracted in acetonitrile, with a HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) clean-up step and a solid phase extraction step prior to derivatization with BSTFA (bis(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide). Concentration measurements were done with gas chromatography– mass spectrometry and gas chromatography–isotope ratio mass spectrometry was used for isotope ratio analysis. The technique presented allows for atmospheric compound-specific isotopic composition measurements for five semi-volatile phenols with an estimated accuracy of 0.3–0.5‰ at atmospheric concentrations exceeding 0.1 ngm−3 while the detection limits for concentration measurements are in the pgm−3 range. Isotopic fractionation throughout the entire extraction procedure and analysis was proven to be below the precision of the isotope ratio measurements. The method was tested by conducting ambient measurements from September to December 2011.
Evaluating the utility of an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometer for analyzing organic peroxides
Informal Lunchtime Atmospheric Chemistry Discussion Series
Evaluating the utility of an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization
mass spectrometer for analyzing organic peroxides
Presented by
AMANDA JAMEER
November 5, 2013 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
317 Petrie Science and Engineering Building
York University
Notice of Public Lecture: Marina Sonia Saccon
Faculty of Graduate Studies
Graduate Programme in Chemistry
ORAL EXAMINATION PROSPECTUS
Marina Sonia Saccon
A Candidate for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Title of Thesis:
Compound Specific Concentration and Stable Carbon Isotope Ratio Measurements of Secondary Organic Aerosols
October 30, 2013 @ 1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
317 Petrie Science and Engineering Building
York University
Understanding semivolatile organic compounds in remote and urban atmospheres, Prof. Arthur Chan, UofT
Guest Speaker, Professor Arthur Chan
Guest Speaker: Professor Arthur Chan, Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto
Date: October 24, 2013, 1:30 PM
Venue: 106 Life Science Building
Description: Constraining sources of organic aerosol is important for global climate and human health. There is increasing evidence that semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) and their oxidation products are highly reactive and can be a dominant source of organic aerosol. Identifying and quantifying SVOCs is difficult, often limited by sampling losses and insufficient separation capabilities. Here we use a newly developed instrument that quantitatively analyzes SVOCs on a bihourly timescale. We deployed this instrument in a pine forest, and show that many SVOCs are biogenically derived, and they dominate reactive loss of ozone. We have also developed a method combining chromatographic separation with vacuum ultraviolet photoionization to analyze hydrocarbon isomers in a complex organic mixture, speciating alkanes by their molecular structures (carbon number, alkyl branching and number of rings/double bonds). This method was applied to understanding the photochemical processing of vehicular emissions in California during the Calnex 2010 field campaign. Continuing instrument development will also be discussed.
23rd Annual Harold I Schiff Lecture Faculty of Science: Prof. Dr. habil Astrid Kiendler-Scharr
23rd Annual Harold Schiff Lecturer, Dr. Prof. Habil Astrid Kiendler-Scharr
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Habil Astrid Kiendler-Scharr
Title: Chemistry Climate Interactions: Biogenic Emissions and their Contribution to Secondary Organic Aerosol
Date: October 31, 2013, 2:30 PM
Venue: 103 Life Science Building
Abstract: Atmospheric aerosols impact climate directly by scattering and absorbing solar radiation and indirectly by acting as ice and cloud condensation nuclei. Secondary organic aerosols (SOA) comprise an important component of atmospheric aerosols. Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) emitted by vegetation are a major source of SOA. It is known that BVOC emissions depend on climate, specifically on temperature and light. Therefore it is to be expected that a chemistry-climate interaction exists, in which climate change induces changes in BVOC emissions and thereby SOA formation, which feeds back to climate. The presentation details the state of the art knowledge on biogenic SOA and its climate relevance. The question whether climate induced changes in biogenic SOA formation may attenuate or amplify climate change is addressed based on experiments conducted in the Jülich Plant Atmosphere Chamber. Brochure - Y-File
Paul T. Anastas – 2013
2013 Annual Morris Katz Lecturer, Paul T. Anastas
Speaker: Professor Paul T. Anastas, Department of Chemistry, Director, Center for Green Chemistry and Engineering, Yale University:
Title: Sustainability through Chemistry: The Path Forward
Date: October 18, 2013, 2:30 PM
Venue: 103 Life Science Building
Abstract: Society is on an unsustainable path. The change thatis needed is urgent. One of the few human forces of change that is capable of bringing about the needed in the timeframe required is called innovation. Green Chemistry and Green Engineering are fields that use the spirit and tools of innovation to design the products, processes and systems that are the basis of our society and our economy so they will be more sustainable. This talk will focus on the scientific achievements that have resulted in positive impact thus far and the steps that are being taken to ensure that the innovations resulting from these field are not just incremental but rather, transformative. Brochure - Y-File
Oil Sands Intensive Monitoring Campaign, Fort McMurray
Zoe Davis, Akshay Lobo and Robert McLaren in front of the NRC Convair aircraft.
Members of CAC (Zoe Davis, Akshay Lobo, Robert McLaren) are participating in the 2013 Oil Sands Intensive Monitoring Campaign based out of Fort McMurray, Alberta, organized by Environment Canada. On Sept 5, Zoe Davis and Prof. McLaren will be aboard NRC's Convair aircraft "Research 9". The flight's mission includes satellite validation (TES) for CO and NH3 in the oil sands region as well as studying the transformation of industrial pollution plumes as they are carried downwind of the oil sands region north of Forth McMurray. The mission will take them west from Alberta into Saskatchewan and back. In addition to aircraft measurements of air quality, other air measurements are being taken by members of the CAC at a ground site, AMS13, in the oil sands region. Prof. Jochen Rudolph's group is collecting filters that will be analyzed off site for the presence of trace organic material in particulate matter such as nitro-phenols and high molecular weight hydrocarbons.
Notice of Public Lecture: Christine Facca
Faculty of Graduate Studies
Graduate Programme in Chemistry
ORAL EXAMINATION PROSPECTUS
Christine Facca
A Candidate for the Degreee of
Master of Science
Title of Thesis:
Method Development of a Denuder Based Technique for the Determination of the Partitioning of Nitrophenols
August 30, 2013 @ 9:30 am – 10:15 am
317 Petrie Science and Engineering Bldg.
York University
Notice of Public Lecture: Jamie D. Halla
Faculty of Graduate Studies
Graduate Programme in Chemistry
ORAL EXAMINATION PROSPECTUS
Jamie D. Halla
A Candidate for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Title of Thesis:
The Application of MAX-DOAS to the Measurement of Tropospheric Gases and
Aerosols in Marine and Continental Environments
June 25, 2013 @ 10:00 am - 10:45 am
317 Petrie Science and Engineering Building
York University