Field measurements of biogenic volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere by dynamic solid-phase microextraction and portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

•Dynamic SPME sampling and portable GC-MS were utilized for analysis of VOCs in air.•Study included preliminary identification of dimethylamine and ethylamine.•SPME-GC-MS for field measurement of VOCs and their oxidation products was verified.•Results correlated well with PTR-MS and meteorological data.

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) participate in many physicochemical processes in the atmosphere. Studies indicate that some of these volatile compounds can be photo-oxidized to non-volatile species that contribute to atmospheric formation and growth of secondary organic aerosols (SOA). In this study, the applicability of dynamic solid-phase microextraction (SPME) for the sampling of atmospheric BVOCs and their oxidation products was tested. These compounds were then analysed via portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The measurements were performed in mid-summer 2013 at the Station for Measuring Ecosystem-Atmosphere Relations, SMEAR II in Hyytiälä, Finland. Numerous classes of compounds were efficiently sampled on PDMS/DVB coated SPME, thermally desorbed and analysed by GC-MS, including monoterpenes, their oxidation products, and amines. Results were analysed against meteorological conditions observed during the sampling campaign and the total amount of monoterpenes obtained by proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS). The comparison of the referred data with obtained results demonstrated the capability of the dynamic SPME method for fast in-situ sampling and analysis of organic gaseous compounds in the atmosphere with minimal analytical steps.