Eric Schneider
Characterization of combustion aerosols using chromatographic methods and high-resolution mass spectrometry.
Emissions from wildfires account for a large share of the total amount of ambient particulate matter and impact the general air quality. This results in some negative effects, for human health, the climate and the environment in general.
The goal of the DFG-project IMPAERO is to utilize an aerosol chamber for the simulation of wildfires as well as aging of the emitted aerosols to collect sufficient fine particles to study both, the biological effects and the physico-chemical parameters responsible for these effects.
The application of chromatographic techniques such as liquid chromatography in combination with suitable atmospheric pressure ionization methods such as electron spray ionization (ESI) or atmospheric pressure photoionisation (APPI) and subsequent detection by Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) is a suitable way to characterize the complex chemical composition of aerosol samples from various sources.
