[1584]
Hörtnagl, L., R. Clement, M. Graus, A. Hammerle, A. Hansel, and G. Wohlfahrt,
"Dealing with disjunct concentration measurements in eddy covariance applications: a comparison of available approaches.",
Atmos Environ (1994), vol. 44, May, 2010.
Link:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231010001810
<p>Using proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry equipped with a quadrupol mass analyser to quantify the biosphere-atmosphere exchange of volatile organic compounds (VOC), concentrations of different VOC are measured sequentially. Depending on how many VOC species are targeted and their respective integration times, each VOC is measured at repeat rates on the order of a few seconds. This represents an order of magnitude longer sample interval compared to the standard eddy covariance (EC) method (5-20 Hz sampling rates). Here we simulate the effect of disjunct sampling on EC flux estimates by decreasing the time resolution of CO2 and H2O concentrations measured at 20 Hz above a temperate mountain grassland in the Austrian Alps. Fluxes for one month are calculated with the standard EC method and compared to fluxes calculated based on the disjunct data (1, 3 and 5 s sampling rates) using the following approaches: i) imputation of missing concentrations based on the nearest neighbouring samples (iDECnn), ii) imputation by linear interpolation (iDECli), and iii) virtual disjunct EC (vDEC), i.e. flux calculation based solely on the disjunct concentrations. It is shown that the two imputation methods result in additional low-pass filtering, longer lag times (as determined with the maximum cross-correlation method) and a flux loss of 3-30 % as compared to the standard EC method. A novel procedure, based on a transfer function approach, which specifically corrects for the effect of data treatment, was developed, resulting in improved correspondence (to within 2 %). The vDEC method yields fluxes which approximate the true (20 Hz) fluxes to within 3-7 % and it is this approach we recommend because it involves no additional empirical corrections. The only drawback of the vDEC method is the noisy nature of the cross-correlations, which poses problems with lag determination - practical approaches to overcome this limitation are discussed.</p>
[Graus2010]
Graus, M., M. Müller, and A. Hansel,
"High resolution PTR-TOF: quantification and formula confirmation of VOC in real time.",
J Am Soc Mass Spectrom, vol. 21, no. 6: University of Innsbruck, Institute of Ion Physics and Applied Physics, Innsbruck, Austria., pp. 1037–1044, Jun, 2010.
Link:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jasms.2010.02.006
We present the unprecedented capability to identify and quantify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by means of proton transfer reaction time-of-flight (PTR-TOF) mass spectrometry on-line with high time resolution. A mass resolving power of 4000-5000 and a mass accuracy of 2.5 ppm allow for the unambiguous sum-formula identification of hydrocarbons (HCs) and oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs). Test masses measured over an 11-wk period are very precise (SD < 3.4 ppm) and the mass resolving power shows good stability (SD < 5%). Based on a 1 min time resolution, we demonstrate a detection limit in the low pptv range featuring a dynamic range of six orders of magnitude. Sub-ppbv VOC concentrations are analyzed within a second; sub-pptv detection limits are achieved within a few tens of minutes. We present a thorough characterization of our recently developed PTR-TOF system and address application fields for the new instrument.
[Mielke2010]
Mielke, L. H., K. A. Pratt, P. B. Shepson, S. A. McLuckey, A. Wisthaler, and A. Hansel,
"Quantitative determination of biogenic volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere using proton-transfer reaction linear ion trap mass spectrometry.",
Anal Chem, vol. 82, no. 19: Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA., pp. 7952–7957, Oct, 2010.
Link:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ac1014244
Although oxidation of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) plays an important role in tropospheric ozone and secondary organic aerosol production, significant uncertainties remain in our understanding of the impacts of BVOCs on ozone, aerosols, and climate. To quantify BVOCs, the proton-transfer reaction linear ion trap (PTR-LIT) mass spectrometer was previously developed. The PTR-LIT represents an improvement over more traditional techniques (including the proton-transfer reaction mass spectrometer), providing the capability to directly quantify and differentiate isomeric compounds by MS/MS analysis, with better time resolution and minimal sample handling, compared to gas chromatography techniques. Herein, we present results from the first field deployment of the PTR-LIT. During the Program for Research on Oxidants: Photochemistry, Emissions and Transport (PROPHET) summer 2008 study in northern Michigan, the PTR-LIT successfully quantified isoprene, total monoterpenes, and isomeric isoprene oxidation products methyl vinyl ketone and methacrolein at sub-parts per billion (nmol/mol) levels in a complex forest atmosphere. The utility of the fast time response of the PTR-LIT was shown by the measurement of rapid changes in isoprene, methyl vinyl ketone, and methacrolein, concurrent with changing ozone mole fractions. Overall, the PTR-LIT was shown to be a viable field instrument with the necessary sensitivity, selectivity, and time response to provide detailed measurements of BVOC mole fractions in complex atmospheric samples, at trace levels.
[Schaub2010]
Schaub, A., J. D. Blande, M. Graus, E. Oksanen, J. K. Holopainen, and A. Hansel,
"Real-time monitoring of herbivore induced volatile emissions in the field.",
Physiol Plant, vol. 138, no. 2: Ionicon Analytik GmbH, Technikerstrasse 21a, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria., pp. 123–133, Feb, 2010.
Link:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3054.2009.01322.x
When plants are damaged by herbivorous insects they emit a blend of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which include a range or terpenoids and green leaf volatiles (GLVs) formed via different metabolic pathways. The precise timing of these emissions upon the onset of herbivore feeding has not been fully elucidated, and the information that is available has been mainly obtained through laboratory based studies. We investigated emissions of VOCs from Populus tremula L. xP. tremuloides Michx. during the first 20 h of feeding by Epirrita autumnata (autumnal moth) larvae in a field site. The study was conducted using Proton Transfer Reaction-Mass Spectrometry (PTR-MS) to measure emissions online, with samples collected for subsequent analysis by complementary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for purposes of compound identification. GLV emission peaks occurred sporadically from the outset, indicating herbivore activity, while terpene emissions were induced within 16 h. We present data detailing the patterns of monoterpene (MT), GLV and sesquiterpene (SQT) emissions during the early stages of herbivore feeding showing diurnal MT and SQT emission that is correlated more with temperature than light. Peculiarities in the timing of SQT emissions prompted us to conduct a thorough characterization of the equipment used to collect VOCs and thus corroborate the accuracy of results. A laboratory based analysis of the throughput of known GLV, MT and SQT standards at different temperatures was made with PTR-MS. Enclosure temperatures of 12, 20 and 25 degrees C had little influence on the response time for dynamic measurements of a GLV or MT. However, there was a clear effect on SQT measurements. Elucidation of emission patterns in real-time is dependent upon the dynamics of cuvettes at different temperatures.
[Seewald2010]
Seewald, M. S. A., W. Singer, B. A. Knapp, I. H. Franke-Whittle, A. Hansel, and H. Insam,
"Substrate-induced volatile organic compound emissions from compost-amended soils",
Biology and Fertility of Soils, vol. 46: Springer-Verlag, pp. 371-382, 2010.
Link:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00374-010-0445-0
The agronomic effects of composts, mineral fertiliser and combinations thereof on chemical, biological and physiological soil properties have been studied in an 18-year field experiment. The present study aimed at tracing treatment effects by evaluating the volatile organic compound (VOC) emission of the differently treated soils: non-amended control, nitrogen fertilisation and composts (produced from organic waste and sewage sludge, respectively) in combination with nitrogen fertiliser. Microbial community structure was determined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Aerobic and anaerobic soil VOC emission was determined after glucose amendment using proton transfer reaction–mass spectrometry (PTR-MS). After inducing VOC production by substrate (glucose) addition and at the same time reducing oxygen availability to impair degradation of the produced VOCs, we were able to differentiate among the treatments. Organic waste compost did not alter the VOC emissions compared to the untreated control, whilst sewage sludge composts and mineral fertilisation showed distinct effects. This differentiation was supported by DGGE analysis of fungal 18S rDNA fragments and confirms earlier findings on bacterial communities. Three major conclusions can be drawn: (1) VOC patterns are able to discriminate among soil treatments. (2) Sewage sludge compost and mineral fertilisation have not only the strongest impact on microbial community composition but also on VOC emission patterns, but specific tracer VOCs could not be identified. (3) Future efforts should aim at a PTR-MS-linked identification of the detected masses.