Characterization of multiple ACSMs using laboratory secondary organic aerosol generated with a potential aerosol mass oxidation flow reactor

Abstract : The Aerosol Chemical Monitor Calibration Centre (ACMCC) organized a second large multi-institution inter-comparison of Aerodyne aerosol chemical speciation monitors (ACSMs) at the Laboratory for Climate and Environmental Science (LSCE) near Paris, France during March, 2016. Here, we present the results from multiple quadrupole (Q-ACSM) and time-of flight mass spectrometer (ToF-ACSM) instruments measuring secondary organic aerosol (SOA) generated from OH oxidation of naphthalene in a Potential Aerosol Mass (PAM) oxidation flow reactor. The SOA chemical composition corresponded to 1 to 10 days of atmospheric photo-oxidation and was used to test the variability in the mass spectra among 6 ToF-ACSMs, 4 QACSMs and a high-resolution aerosol mass spectrometer (HRAMS), particularly the variability in f44 (ratio of the signal at m/z 44 to total organics). Results from two weeks of ambient sampling will also be discussed.