MRI: Acquisition of a Soot-Particle Aerosol Mass Spectrometer for the Measurement of Submicron Particulate Chemical Composition

Drexel University, Philadelphia PA

Investigators

Abstract

This project involves acquisition of an Aerodyne soot particle aerosol mass spectrometer (SP-AMS), a newly-developed instrument that allows the measurement of size resolved chemical composition of sub-micrometer aerosols in real time. The SP-AMS is similar to the Aerodyne high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer but adds an infrared laser and single particle soot photometer for the measurement of black carbon, a measurement that was not obtainable in earlier generations of the AMS. There is also the promise of trace element measurement in some applications. The instrument will provide a cutting-edge analytical tool for scientists at Drexel University who study atmospheric chemistry, indoor air quality, combustion, and public health impacts of particulates. The instrument will also be made available to and foster collaborative research interactions with groups from other universities in the Mid-Atlantic region such as Rutgers University, the University of Delaware, Columbia University, and Bucknell University. Many young scientists will benefit from training and research projects that utilize this instrument. One source of such students, the Drexel School of Public Health, has a grant program (R25 from the National Inst. on Minority Health and Health Disparities) for supporting graduate researchers from underrepresented groups, which will immediately encourage the diversity of researchers using the SP-AMS. Impacts to the broader research community will involve the dissemination of research products (e.g., datasets and software tools) for use by other researchers. Positive impacts on society at large will stem from improvements to the understanding of how aerosol chemistry affects climate change, quality of life, and health.