Chemical Composition of Water Soluble Organic Carbon Fraction in Atmospheric Particles 
 

Jianzhen Yu*, Hong Yang, Chun Hong Wan and Jianfang Chen

Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology,

Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Tel: (852) 2358 7389   Fax: (852) 2358 1594   Email: chjianyu@ust.hk 
 
 

ABSTRACT 
 

Water soluble organic compounds (WSOC) in atmospheric aerosol contribute to the ability of aerosol particles to act as cloud condensation nuclei. This fraction of organic materials also plays an important role in the wet scavenging of atmospheric particles and formation of haze. Few measurements have been made of the fraction of the water soluble organic carbon in ambient aerosols. Little has been done to ascertain the Chemical nature of this class of compounds. Candidate WSOCs, identified on the basis of their solubility, condensibility, and atmospheric occurrence, may include organic anions, C₂-C₆ dicarboxylic acids, dicarbonyls (C₂-C₃), w-oxo-carboxylic acids (C₂-C₁₀), pyruvic acid, C₂-C₇ polyols, C₂-C₆ amino acids, C₂-C₆ hydroxy amines, and monosaccharides and their derivatives. We have developed an analytical protocol to identify and detect the above individual WSOCs or group of compounds. The total water-soluble organic carbon and total organic carbon are also determined using an aerosol carbon analyzer. Both urban and marine aerosol samples have been collected for analysis of the water-soluble fraction. We will present the Chemical composition of the WSOC fraction of these aerosol samples.