Funded Projects

1) Reconciling Atmospheric OH reactivity Measurements with PTR-ToF-MS observations and Photochemical Box Model Simulations

This study will quantitatively constrain concentration and OH reactivity of previously unexplored volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oxygenated-VOCs (OVOCs). It will ultimately allow us to simultaneously close the carbon budget and hydroxyl radical (OH) reactivity budget. We will primarily utilize two instruments – a high resolution proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometer (PTR-ToF-MS) and a total OH reactivity quantification system using the comparative reactivity method (CRM-OHR). A thorough characterization of the CRM for previously speculated potential analytical artifacts will be firstly conducted. The outcomes will provide a solid basis for following laboratory studies utilizing a diffusion standard generation system and a tandem reactor system to explore analytical characteristics of understudied compounds with high atmospheric relevance in conjunction with the CRM-OHR and PTR-ToF-MS systems. The outcomes will serve as a quantitative basis to examine previous community field campaign datasets with PTR-ToF-MS and CRM-OHR in isoprene dominated environments but with different anthropogenic influences. The proposed comprehensive evaluation of reactive carbon and OH reactivity budgets using laboratory and field observational datasets will be further extended to cross evaluate near-explicit VOC reaction schemes using a community box model framework.

2) Determination of Instantaneous Ozone Production Regime in the Ney Work Metropolitan Area during the NYC-METS campaign

We deployed two total OH reactivity observation systems utilizing comparative reactivity method (CRM) with PTR-ToF-MS detectors during the NYC-METS campaign intensive. One system was depoyed in Harlem, NYC, and another at the Flax Pond site in Long Island, which representing an emission and a downwind sites, respectively. These two sites are ideal to examine the emission and the photochemical evolution of fossil and volatile consumer products (VCP) in the high biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) environment. We attempt to observationally constrain the carbon and the reactivity budgets using the observation. A series of thorough post-field campaign calibration experiments will allow us to accurately close carbon and reactivity budget using the field datasets. With the comprehensive observational dataset, we will evaluate instantaneous ozone production regimes in the emission and the downwind sites with various meteorological and NOX conditions.

3) INVESTIGATING THE PRESENCE OF KETENE IN VAPOR PENS

In 2019, an increase in studies on vaping devices was seen with the emergence of the E-Cigarette or Vaping Product use Associated Lung Injury, or “EVALI,” outbreak. This outbreak was originally attributed to the use of Vitamin E Acetate as a solvent in vaping devices. However, recent studies suggest that ketene – a toxic gas that has the potential to be produced from the exposure of vitamin E acetate to exceedingly high temperatures –  may in fact have been the true cause of this outbreak. This study will utilize both proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technology to identify the compounds produced from the vaporization of vitamin E acetate within a vaping device. This study will place an emphasis on identifying the production of ketene, which we hope will provide a better understanding of the health implications of vaping devices and perhaps justify a need for further regulations on the various components of vaping devices.