Comprehensive characterization of atmospheric organic matter in Fresno, California fog water

Pierre Herckes, Jerry A. Leenheer, Jeffrey L. Collett

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

Fogwater collected during winter in Fresno (CA) was characterized by isolating several distinct fractions and characterizing them by infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. More than 80% of the organic matter in the fogwater was recovered and characterized. The most abundant isolated fractions were those comprised of volatile acids (24% of isolated carbon) and hydrophilic acids plus neutrals (28%). Volatile acids, including formic and acetic acid, have been previously identified as among the most abundant individual species in fogwater. Recovered hydrophobic acids exhibited some properties similar to aquatic fulvic acids. An insoluble particulate organic matter fraction contained a substantial amount of biological material, while hydrophilic and transphilic fractions also contained material suggestive of biotic origin. Together, these fractions illustrate the important contribution biological sources make to organic matter in atmospheric fog droplets. The fogwater also was notable for containing a large amount of organic nitrogen present in a variety of species, including amines, nitrate esters, peptides, and nitroso compounds.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)393-399
Number of pages7
JournalEnvironmental Science and Technology
Volume41
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 15 2007

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Environmental Chemistry

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