Current Graduate Research

Merhnaz Sarrafzadeh

I am simulating atmospheric reactions under controlled conditions in a 8 m³ smog chamber in order to study the mechanisms and products of photo-oxidation reactions of OH radicals with atmospherically important hydrocarbons. Analysis and identification of particle and gas phase products is performed using an Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization (APCI) triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (API 365) in an online manner.

 Amanda Jameer

 Secondary organic aerosols (SOA) are known to affect the earth’s radiation budget through its ability to scatter and absorb radiation. Consequently, the mechanisms and factors that influence SOA composition and formation are poorly understood. Recent modeling studies coupled with smog chamber experiments suggest that organic peroxides (organic hydroperoxides and peroxyhemiacetals) might be a major component of SOA composition under low NOx conditions ([Reinnig et al., 2009], [Couvidat and Signeur, 2011]). Despite other group’s results, organic peroxide formation has not been detected by similar smog chamber studies performed at York University. In this study, an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometer (APCI-MS) is used to determine its utility in detecting organic peroxide formation from monoterpene oxidation experiments.