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

Volatile organic compounds were quantified during two aircraft-based field campaigns using highly-automated, whole air samplers with expedited post-flight analysis via a new custom-built, field-deployable gas chromatography – mass spectrometry instrument. During flight, air samples were pressurized with a stainless 25 steel bellows compressor into electropolished stainless steel canisters. The air samples were analyzed using a novel gas chromatograph system designed specifically for field-use which eliminates the need for liquid nitrogen. Instead, a Stirling cooler is used for cryogenic sample pre-concentration at temperatures as low as -165°C. The analysis system was fully automated on a 20-minute cycle to allow for unattended processing of an entire flight of 72 sample canisters within 30 hours, thereby reducing typical sample residence times in the 30 canisters to less than three days. The new analytical system is capable of quantifying a wide suite of C2 to C10 Atmos. Meas. Tech. Discuss., doi:10.5194/amt-2016-210, 2016 Manuscript under review for journal Atmos. Meas. Tech. Published: 11 July 2016 c © Author(s) 2016. CC-BY 3.0 License.