Discipline: Chemistry and Chemical Sciences
Subcategory: Air
Session: 1
Room: Exhibit Hall
Lourdes Loera - Arizona State University
Co-Author(s): Pierre Herckes, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Quantifying halogen presence and speciation in particulate matter is crucial given the role atmospheric particulates play in transport and cycling. While halogens are often included in aerosol studies, iodine and bromine have rarely been examined, especially outside of a marine environment. Focus on this environment is, in part, due to the existence of biogenic marine sources for both halogens. However, examining iodine and bromine in an urban environment has the potential to provide key insights into the transport and processing of these species in the atmosphere. As Tempe is set within a desert environment, bromine concentration is expected to be relatively high due to the dust, while iodine is expected to remain near the coast. To detect presence and concentration, ICP-MS analysis was performed on samples taken in Tempe, AZ as well as sites in Bakersfield, CA and Davis, CA, which yielded preliminary results in line with expectations. Speciation analysis will be conducted using HPLC along with other methods of analysis. By doing so, this study aims to identify species present in an urban environment as well as potential transportation pathways.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): This research is supported by the Western Alliance to Expand Student Opportunities (WAESO) Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) National Science Foundation (NSF) Cooperative Agreement No. HRD-1619524
Faculty Advisor: Pierre Herckes, pierre.herckes@asu.edu
Role: This work is the body of my honors thesis. While I did not take part in the sampling, as it extends over several years, I ran ICP-MS analysis and determined the course of the experiment.