Q&A January 2006 www.thecolumn.eu.com The Column It's All Up in The Air
Ally Lewis from the Department of Chemistry at the University of York is
solving some of the mysteries associated with analysing complex organic
mixtures in the atmosphere. Your research What is involves the innovative
about analysis of your approach? organic There are two innovative
compounds in the aspects to our work. atmosphere? The first is taking the
lab to the sample. What does this include? Many of the compounds we're
interested in are The range of organic compounds found in the highly
unstable and the analysis must be done on the spot. A atmosphere is
enormous. The smallest we're interested in is good example is a molecule
called peroxyacetylnitrate or PAN formaldehyde, which is emitted directly
from combustion, but for short a component of photochemical smog. It is is
also produced in the atmosphere as a by-product of the thermally unstable
so is analysed in the field using custom- oxidation of other larger
organic compounds. Some of the made gas GC
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Column - January 2006