An improved, automated whole air sampler and gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis system for volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere

Lerner, Brian M.; Gilman, Jessica B.; Aikin, Kenneth C.; Atlas, Elliot L.; Goldan, Paul D.; Graus, Martin; Hendershot, Roger; Isaacman-VanWertz, Gabriel A.; Koss, Abigail; Kuster, William C.; Lueb, Richard A.; McLaughlin, Richard J.; Peischl, Jeff; Sueper, Donna; Ryerson, Thomas B.; Tokarek, Travis W.; Warneke, Carsten; Yuan, Bin; de Gouw, Joost A.

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-291-2017

Articles | Volume 10, issue 1

Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 291–313, 2017

https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-291-2017

© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 291–313, 2017

https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-291-2017

© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Articles | Volume 10, issue 1

Research article 26 Jan 2017

Research article | 26 Jan 2017

An improved, automated whole air sampler and gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis system for volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere

Brian M. Lerner et al.

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Final revised paper (published on 26 Jan 2017)
Supplement to the final revised paper
Preprint (discussion started on 11 Jul 2016)
Supplement to the preprint

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment

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- Supplement

RC1: 'Review of', Anonymous Referee #1, 18 Aug 2016
- AC1: 'Response to reviewer #1 for: An Improved, Automated Whole-Air Sampler and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry Analysis System for Volatile Organic Compounds in the Atmosphere', B. M. Lerner, 21 Nov 2016
RC2: 'Review of: An Improved, Automated Whole-Air Sampler and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry Analysis System for Volatile Organic Compounds in the Atmosphere', A. -C. Lewis, 19 Aug 2016
- AC2: 'Response to reviewer #2 for: An Improved, Automated Whole-Air Sampler and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry Analysis System for Volatile Organic Compounds in the Atmosphere', B. M. Lerner, 21 Nov 2016

Short summary

Whole air sampling followed by analysis by gas chromatography is a common technique for characterization of trace volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere. We describe a new automated gas chromatograph–mass spectrograph which uses a Stirling cooler for sample preconcentration at −165 °C without the need for a cryogen such as liquid nitrogen. We also discuss potential sources of artifacts from our electropolished stainless steel sampling system and present results from two field campaigns.