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Thesis Defense Talks

Notice of Public Lecture: Mehrnaz Sarrafzadeh

Faculty of Graduate Studies
Graduate Programme in Chemistry
ORAL EXAMINATION PROSPECTUS
Mehrnaz Sarrafzadeh
A Candidate for the Degree of Doctor or Philosophy

Title of Thesis:
Chemical and Physical Studies of Secondary Organic Aerosol Formed from β-Pinene Photooxidation

Public Talk: Tuesday, January 3, 2017, 2:00 PM,  2:30 PM, 317 PETRIE

Abstract

Atmospheric organic aerosols have a significant impact on climate and human health. However, our understanding of the physical and chemical properties of these aerosols are inadequate, thus their climate and health influences are poorly constrained. In this study, we investigated the secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from OH-initiated oxidation of β-pinene which has seldom been investigated. The majority of experiments Continue reading →

NOTICE OF PUBLIC LECTURE: KEVIN MARSHALL NIKELSKI

Faculty of Graduate Studies
Graduate Programme in Chemistry
ORAL EXAMINATION PROSPECTUS
Kevin Marshall Nikelski
A Candidate for the Degree of Master of Science.

Title of Thesis:
Exploring the Potential of Polyelectrolyte-Apatmer Films for Use in Optical and Electrochemical Sensing (Thesis)

Public Talk: Monday, March 14, 2016, 2:30 PM,  PSE 317

Abstract
Nitrogen oxides (NOy) are key oxidative species within the nocturnal atmosphere, due to reduced OH mixing ratios during nocturnal hours. NOy species have also been found to serve as a source of radical production in the early morning. When coupled with their impact upon air quality and climate, the study of NOy serves as important undertaking Continue reading →

NOTICE OF PUBLIC LECTURE: YASAMIN HASSANI

Faculty of Graduate Studies Graduate Programme in Chemistry
ORAL EXAMINATION PROSPECTUS
Yasamin Hassani
A Candidate for the Degree of
Master of Science

Title of Thesis:
Method Development for Concentration Measurements of SVOCs and Analysis of Ambient Samples (Thesis)

Public Talk: Thursday, Sept. 24th, 2015, Room 317 Petrie

Abstract:

Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) comprise a wide range of toxic pollutants in the atmosphere. Phenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and n-alkanes are specific examples of SVOCs that are the focus of this project. SVOCs are compounds with intermediate vapour pressures and can exist in the atmosphere in both gas phase and in particulate matter (PM), which makes their quantification in the atmosphere challenging. Therefore, developing a well-characterized analytical technique for accurate concentration measurement of the selected classes of SVOCs is essential in order to gain more insight into their ambient yield and environmental fate. Recently, a new methodology that allows sampling and analysis of the total (gas phase and PM) concentration of SVOCs in the atmosphere has been developed and tested on a class of SVOCs, namely, nitrophenols (Busca, 2010; Moukhtar et al., 2011; Saccon et al., 2013). This method is based on a sorbent impregnated filter (SIF) technique using conventional high volume air samplers, extraction and analysis by GC-MS.

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC LECTURE: IBRAHEEM NUAAMAN

Faculty of Graduate Studies Graduate Programme in Chemistry
ORAL EXAMINATION PROSPECTUS

Ibraheem Nuaaman:
A Candidate for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy

Title of Thesis:
Investigation of air pollutants near the Great Lakes in Ontario and along the coast of California

Public Talk: Monday, April 20th, 2015, 1:30 - 2:15 PM., Room 317 PSE

Abstract

Carbonyl measurements in rural Ridgetown, Ontario using an AT-DNPH-HPLC system during the BAQS-Met study (2007) will be discussed. An overview of the significance, source and sinks of carbonyls will be given. Principle of operation and calibrations for the AT-DNPH-HPLC system will be presented. Total carbonyl mixing ratios were observed to be few ppb. Carbonyls accounted for 22% of the non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) distribution and aldehyde contribution to NMHC reactivity towards OH radical was 37%. The net photochemical formation rate (S-L) was estimated and compared to the maximum observed formation established from diurnal profiles. The HCHO to CH3CHO ratio revealed that carbonyl precursors are largely anthropogenic in nature. Continue reading →

Notice of Public Lecture: Amanda Jameer – October 31, 2014

Faculty of Graduate Studies Graduate Programme in Chemistry
ORAL EXAMINATION PROSPECTUS

Amanda Jameer

A Candidate for the Degree of Master of Science

Title of Thesis:

Evaluating the utility of a positive-ion atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometer ((+) APCI-MS/MS) at detecting organic peroxides during β-pinene ozonolysis experiments

Public Talk: Friday, October 31, 10:00 - 10:45 am., Room 317 Petrie,
Oral Examination: 11:00 am, CAC, 006A Steacie

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Notice of Public Lecture: Patryk Wojtal

 Faculty of Graduate Studies

Graduate Programme in Chemistry
ORAL EXAMINATION PROSPECTUS

Patryk Wojtal

A Candidate for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy

Title of Thesis:
Nocturnal Measurements of HONO, NO2, and NO3 by Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy in Polluted Marine and Urban Atmospheres


December 12, 2013 @ 1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
317 Petrie Science and Engineering Building
York University

Patryk Wojtal

Abstract
Nitrogen oxides are ubiquitous throughout the lower atmosphere and significantly affect the chemistry of the atmosphere, air quality, and climate. A dataset obtained using differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) was analyzed in order to quantify the NO3, HONO and NO2 concentrations at Saturna Island, and concentrations of N2O5 were calculated. Nocturnal measurements of NO3, NO2 and HONO were performed using active-DOAS at York University.

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Notice of Public Lecture: Marina Sonia Saccon

 Faculty of Graduate Studies 

Graduate Programme in Chemistry 
ORAL EXAMINATION PROSPECTUS 

Marina Sonia Saccon

A Candidate for the Degree of 
Doctor of Philosophy

Title of Thesis:
Compound Specific Concentration and Stable Carbon Isotope Ratio Measurements of Secondary Organic Aerosols


October 30, 2013 @ 1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
317 Petrie Science and Engineering Building
York University

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Notice of Public Lecture: Christine Facca

Faculty of Graduate Studies

Graduate Programme in Chemistry 
ORAL EXAMINATION PROSPECTUS 

Christine Facca

A Candidate for the Degreee of 
Master of Science 

Title of Thesis:
Method Development of a Denuder Based Technique for the Determination of the Partitioning of Nitrophenols 

August 30, 2013 @ 9:30 am – 10:15 am
317 Petrie Science and Engineering Bldg.
York University

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Notice of Public Lecture: Jamie D. Halla

 Faculty of Graduate Studies 

Graduate Programme in Chemistry 
ORAL EXAMINATION PROSPECTUS 

Jamie D. Halla

A Candidate for the Degree of 
Doctor of Philosophy

Title of Thesis:
The Application of MAX-DOAS to the Measurement of Tropospheric Gases and
Aerosols in Marine and Continental Environments

June 25, 2013 @ 10:00 am - 10:45 am
317 Petrie Science and Engineering Building
York University

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Notice of Public Lecture: Kristin Julianne Wall

 Faculty of Graduate Studies 

Graduate Programme in Chemistry 
ORAL EXAMINATION PROSPECTUS 

Kristin Julianne Wall

A Candidate for the Degree of 
Doctor of Philosophy

Title of Thesis:
Investigation of the photoenhanced reduction of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on organic films and above soils as the missing source of daytime tropospheric nitrous acid (HONO)

Date:  Friday, June 14, 2013,  @1:30 PM
Place:  317 Petrie Science Bldg.
York University

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