Faculty of Graduate Studies
Graduate Programme in Chemistry
ORAL EXAMINATION PROSPECTUS
A Candidate for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy.
Title of Thesis:
Stable Carbon Isotope Composition of Ambient VOC and its use in the Determination of Photochemical Ages of Air Masses
September 20, 2012 @ 12:30 pm – 1:15 pm
306 Lumbers Building
York University
Abstract: Stable Carbon Isotopic Composition measurement technique can provide valuable information about the processing of trace gases in the atmosphere. Not only can it can be used to distinguish physical processes such as dilution and mixing from photochemical ageing, but it can be an important tool in identification of sources, calculating the photochemical age (PCA) and qualitatively and quantitatively connecting precursors with their atmospheric products. Even though isotopic composition analysis is a valuable technique, its use is hindered by the low concentrations of compounds in the atmosphere, complexity of the samples and complex measuring instrumentation. The intention of this research project was to develop and validate sampling and instrumental analysis techniques that can be used to perform isotopic composition measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and to apply these methods to analysis of ambient samples.
In this presentation newly developed sampling and analysis techniques will be presented. Application of mixing ratios and stable carbon isotope composition in qualitative analysis of sampling locations (Egbert and Toronto), as well quantitative determination of PCA of collected ambient VOC will be shown and discussed. Differently determined PCA will be compared and their advantages and disadvantages outlined.