Continuous VOC data measured by PTR-TOF based on IB Oden

The expedition focused on processes relating to cloud formation in the summer Arctic and included observations of marine biology and chemistry, atmospheric chemistry, physical oceanography, aerosol chemistry and physics, and meteorology. Continuous one-minute timeseries of VOC (volatile organic compounds) were measured and recorded by means of PTR-TOF (Proton Transfer Reaction Time-of-Flight) mass spectrometry.

Time-of-flight mass spectrometry provides full mass scans (here m/z < 317). This allowed for the search for compounds that were, at times, present in the Arctic air in concentrations above our limit of detection. Our focus, for the time being, was the identification and quantification of dimethyl sulfide (DMS), acetonitrile, acetone and various pollution markers like benzene, toluene and xylene.