UFP classification, characterization, quantification by DTD-GC×GC-TOFMS (Nadine Gawlitta, MDCW 2025)

🎤 Presenter: Nadine Gawlitta (University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark / Helmholtz Munich, Neuherberg, Germany)

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💡 Book in your calendar: 17th Multidimensional Chromatography Workshop (MDCW) 13 - 15. January 2026

Abstract

Ultrafine particles (UFP) have diameters below 100 nm and a high surface area. As they may enter the lung deeply, UFP pose a potential risk to human health. Efforts in sampling and analysing UFP are challenged by their low mass. Thus, to gain insights into their chemical composition, efficient sampling strategies and highly sensitive instrumentation are needed.

Ambient air UFP was sampled in two field campaigns in March and September 2023 in the city of Augsburg, Germany. Samples were collected on filters for 24 h and analysed via direct thermal desorption coupled to comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (DTD-GC×GC-TOFMS, LECO BT4D). Compound classes of known adverse health effects, e.g. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including alkylated, oxygenated 4 and 5-ring PAHs and parent-4, 5 and 6-Ring PAHs were identified. Ten PAHs, including Benz[a]pyrene (BaP) - as one of the most ubiquitous and cancerogenic PAHs - were subsequently quantified. We found BaP concentrations of 6-14 pg/m3 and 4-38 pg/m3 in March and September, respectively. Moreover, the classification approach demonstrated relatively higher abundances of parent-4,5 and 6-ring PAHs as well as alkylated and oxygenated 4- and 5-ring PAHs during two days of high BaP concentration.

This study gives novel insights into the composition of ambient air UFP and highlights the importance of applying sophisticated analytical techniques such as GC×GC-MS to gain a comprehensive understanding of complex sample composition.

This project was financed by the Bavarian Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection.