A method to measure the partitioning coefficient of volatile organic compounds in nanoparticles

The partitioning behavior of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into nanoparticles is less studied compared to those of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) because of the lower concentration of the VOCs that is expected to partition into particles. One challenge in measuring the accurate partition...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Guiying Rao, Jeonghyeon Ahn, Abigail Evans, Michelle Casey, Eric Vejerano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2020-01-01
Series:MethodsX
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016120302612
_version_ 1818426666617143296
author Guiying Rao
Jeonghyeon Ahn
Abigail Evans
Michelle Casey
Eric Vejerano
author_facet Guiying Rao
Jeonghyeon Ahn
Abigail Evans
Michelle Casey
Eric Vejerano
author_sort Guiying Rao
collection DOAJ
description The partitioning behavior of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into nanoparticles is less studied compared to those of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) because of the lower concentration of the VOCs that is expected to partition into particles. One challenge in measuring the accurate partition coefficient of VOCs is quantifying their low mass fraction that sorbed on nanoparticles and differentiating them from the high VOC concentrations present in the gas-phase. Systematically characterizing the partitioning coefficient at a specific environmental condition is also difficult when sampling in the field. During field sampling, thermal and non-thermal issues such as sampling artifacts and non-equilibrium conditions because of a dynamic environment often result in considerable variability in the measured partition coefficients. In this study, we developed a bench-scale system that can achieve precise control of the experimental condition (e.g., relative humidity, temperature, and particle composition) and allow us to measure the low concentration of 1,2-dichlorobenzene in the particles. A similar set up can be used to study the low mass fraction of other VOCs partitioning in nanoparticles. The detailed but uncomplicated system setup may assist other researchers that investigate the global fate and transport and health effects of VOCs. • A bench-scale system was built in the laboratory to study the gas-to-particle partitioning • Experimental conditions can be controlled and easily varied • The system enables the systematic study of a single environmental factor on the partitioning process
first_indexed 2024-12-14T14:33:28Z
format Article
id doaj.art-ea78138f75cb43a784e50eeaec4fe923
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2215-0161
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-14T14:33:28Z
publishDate 2020-01-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series MethodsX
spelling doaj.art-ea78138f75cb43a784e50eeaec4fe9232022-12-21T22:57:45ZengElsevierMethodsX2215-01612020-01-017101041A method to measure the partitioning coefficient of volatile organic compounds in nanoparticlesGuiying Rao0Jeonghyeon Ahn1Abigail Evans2Michelle Casey3Eric Vejerano4Center for Environmental Nanoscience and Risk, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly St., PHRC 501D, Columbia 29208, United StatesCenter for Environmental Nanoscience and Risk, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly St., PHRC 501D, Columbia 29208, United StatesCenter for Environmental Nanoscience and Risk, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly St., PHRC 501D, Columbia 29208, United StatesCenter for Environmental Nanoscience and Risk, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly St., PHRC 501D, Columbia 29208, United StatesCorresponding author.; Center for Environmental Nanoscience and Risk, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly St., PHRC 501D, Columbia 29208, United StatesThe partitioning behavior of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into nanoparticles is less studied compared to those of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) because of the lower concentration of the VOCs that is expected to partition into particles. One challenge in measuring the accurate partition coefficient of VOCs is quantifying their low mass fraction that sorbed on nanoparticles and differentiating them from the high VOC concentrations present in the gas-phase. Systematically characterizing the partitioning coefficient at a specific environmental condition is also difficult when sampling in the field. During field sampling, thermal and non-thermal issues such as sampling artifacts and non-equilibrium conditions because of a dynamic environment often result in considerable variability in the measured partition coefficients. In this study, we developed a bench-scale system that can achieve precise control of the experimental condition (e.g., relative humidity, temperature, and particle composition) and allow us to measure the low concentration of 1,2-dichlorobenzene in the particles. A similar set up can be used to study the low mass fraction of other VOCs partitioning in nanoparticles. The detailed but uncomplicated system setup may assist other researchers that investigate the global fate and transport and health effects of VOCs. • A bench-scale system was built in the laboratory to study the gas-to-particle partitioning • Experimental conditions can be controlled and easily varied • The system enables the systematic study of a single environmental factor on the partitioning processhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016120302612Gas/particle partitioningVOCsNanoparticlesAerosolsMethods
spellingShingle Guiying Rao
Jeonghyeon Ahn
Abigail Evans
Michelle Casey
Eric Vejerano
A method to measure the partitioning coefficient of volatile organic compounds in nanoparticles
MethodsX
Gas/particle partitioning
VOCs
Nanoparticles
Aerosols
Methods
title A method to measure the partitioning coefficient of volatile organic compounds in nanoparticles
title_full A method to measure the partitioning coefficient of volatile organic compounds in nanoparticles
title_fullStr A method to measure the partitioning coefficient of volatile organic compounds in nanoparticles
title_full_unstemmed A method to measure the partitioning coefficient of volatile organic compounds in nanoparticles
title_short A method to measure the partitioning coefficient of volatile organic compounds in nanoparticles
title_sort method to measure the partitioning coefficient of volatile organic compounds in nanoparticles
topic Gas/particle partitioning
VOCs
Nanoparticles
Aerosols
Methods
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016120302612
work_keys_str_mv AT guiyingrao amethodtomeasurethepartitioningcoefficientofvolatileorganiccompoundsinnanoparticles
AT jeonghyeonahn amethodtomeasurethepartitioningcoefficientofvolatileorganiccompoundsinnanoparticles
AT abigailevans amethodtomeasurethepartitioningcoefficientofvolatileorganiccompoundsinnanoparticles
AT michellecasey amethodtomeasurethepartitioningcoefficientofvolatileorganiccompoundsinnanoparticles
AT ericvejerano amethodtomeasurethepartitioningcoefficientofvolatileorganiccompoundsinnanoparticles
AT guiyingrao methodtomeasurethepartitioningcoefficientofvolatileorganiccompoundsinnanoparticles
AT jeonghyeonahn methodtomeasurethepartitioningcoefficientofvolatileorganiccompoundsinnanoparticles
AT abigailevans methodtomeasurethepartitioningcoefficientofvolatileorganiccompoundsinnanoparticles
AT michellecasey methodtomeasurethepartitioningcoefficientofvolatileorganiccompoundsinnanoparticles
AT ericvejerano methodtomeasurethepartitioningcoefficientofvolatileorganiccompoundsinnanoparticles