Yearly trend of dicarboxylic acids in organic aerosols from south of Sweden and source attribution

Seven aliphatic dicarboxylic acids (C3–C9) along with phthalic acid, pinic acid and pinonic acid were determined in 35 aerosol (PM10) samples collected over the year at Vavihill sampling station in south of Sweden. Mixture of dichloromethane and methanol (ratio 1:3) was preferred over water for extraction of samples and extraction was assisted by ultrasonic agitation. Analytes were derivatized using N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) containing 1% trimethylsilyl chloride and analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Among studied analytes, azelaic acid was found maximum with an average concentration of 6.0 ± 3.6 ng m−3 and minimum concentration was found for pimelic acid (1.06 ± 0.63 ng m−3). A correlation coefficients analysis was used for defining the possible sources of analytes. Higher dicarboxylic acids (C7–C9) showed a strong correlation with each other (correlation coefficients (r) range, 0.96–0.97). Pinic and pinonic acids showed an increase in concentration during summer. Lower carbon number dicarboxylic acids (C3–C6) and phthalic acid were found strongly correlated, but showed a poor correlation with higher carbon number dicarboxylic acids (C7–C9), suggesting a different source for them. Biomass burning, vehicle exhaust, photo-oxidation of volatile organic compounds (natural and anthropogenic emissions) were possible sources for dicarboxylic acids.

► Dicarboxylic acids, phthalic acid, pinic acid and pinonic acid were analyzed from aerosol samples.
► Analytes were derivatized using and analyzed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry.
► Correlation coefficients analysis was made and was used to determine the sources of diacids.
► PCA was applied and we identified three sources of dicarboxylic acids.