Collected reprints: Abstract 3177

Collected reprints

Abstract

Kolaitis, L.N.; Bruynseels, F.; Van Grieken, R.; Andreae, M.O. (1989). Determination of methanesulfonic acid and non-sea-salt sulfate in single marine aerosol particles. Environ. Sci. Technol. 23: 236-240

In open ocean waters the predominant volatile sulfur compound is dimethyl sulfide (DMS), representing almost 90% of the marine sulfur emissions. Methanesulfonic acid (MSA), one of the oxidation products of DMS, is consequently an important constituent of marine aerosols. Laser microprobe mass analysis (LAMMA) has been used for single-particle analysis of particles collected in the marine boundary layer. MSA, like the non-sea-salt sulfate, is mainly associated with the smallest aerosol particles, whose LAMMA spectra match the reference fingerprint spectra of MSA salts, sodium methanesulfonate and ammonium methanesulfonate. The presence of nitrate and heavy metal ions in the LAMMA spectra can reveal, to a certain extent, the degree of air pollution at the time of sampling.

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