Articles | Volume 18, issue 14
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-3547-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-3547-2025
Research article
 | 
30 Jul 2025
Research article |  | 30 Jul 2025

Interpretation of mass spectra by a Vocus proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometer (PTR-MS) at an urban site: insights from gas chromatographic pre-separation

Ying Zhang, Yuwei Wang, Chuang Li, Yueyang Li, Sijia Yin, Megan S. Claflin, Brian M. Lerner, Douglas Worsnop, and Lin Wang

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Cited articles

Abudumutailifu, M., Shang, X., Wang, L., Zhang, M., Kang, H., Chen, Y., Li, L., Ju, R., Li, B., Ouyang, H., Tang, X., Li, C., Wang, L., Wang, X., George, C., Rudich, Y., Zhang, R., and Chen, J.: Unveiling the Molecular Characteristics, Origins, and Formation Mechanism of Reduced Nitrogen Organic Compounds in the Urban Atmosphere of Shanghai Using a Versatile Aerosol Concentration Enrichment System, Environ. Sci. Technol., 58, 7099–7112, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c04071, 2024. 
Ambrose, J. L., Haase, K., Russo, R. S., Zhou, Y., White, M. L., Frinak, E. K., Jordan, C., Mayne, H. R., Talbot, R., and Sive, B. C.: A comparison of GC-FID and PTR-MS toluene measurements in ambient air under conditions of enhanced monoterpene loading, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 3, 959–980, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-3-959-2010, 2010. 
Anderson, D. C., Pavelec, J., Daube, C., Herndon, S. C., Knighton, W. B., Lerner, B. M., Roscioli, J. R., Yacovitch, T. I., and Wood, E. C.: Characterization of ozone production in San Antonio, Texas, using measurements of total peroxy radicals, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 2845–2860, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-2845-2019, 2019. 
Aprea, E., Biasioli, F., Märk, T. D., and Gasperi, F.: PTR-MS study of esters in water and water/ethanol solutions: Fragmentation patterns and partition coefficients, Int. J. Mass Spectrom., 262, 114–121, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijms.2006.10.016, 2007. 
Baasandorj, M., Millet, D. B., Hu, L., Mitroo, D., and Williams, B. J.: Measuring acetic and formic acid by proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry: sensitivity, humidity dependence, and quantifying interferences, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 8, 1303–1321, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-1303-2015, 2015. 
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Short summary
This study provides insight into how individual ions measured by proton-transfer-reaction (PTR) mass spectrometry are produced by multiple volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A reference table is provided for attributing the PTR signal to contributing VOC species. The signals are grouped according to the complexity of their potential identities. We find that a number of signal ions such as C6H7+ for benzene and C5H9+ for isoprene merely give an upper limit of their corresponding concentrations.
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