Two-Dimensional Offline Chromatographic Fractionation for the Characterization of Humic-Like Substances in Atmospheric Aerosol Particles.

Organic carbon in atmospheric particles comprises a large fraction of chromatographically unresolved compounds, often referred to as humic-like substances (HULIS), which influence particle properties and impact climate, human health, and ecosystems. To better understand its composition, a two-dimensional (2D) offline method combining size-exclusion (SEC) and reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) using a new spiked gradient profile is presented. It separates HULIS into 55 fractions of different size and polarity, with estimated ranges of molecular weight and octanol/water partitioning coefficient (log P) from 160-900 g/mol and 0.2-3.3, respectively. The distribution of HULIS within the 2D size versus polarity space is illustrated with heat maps of ultraviolet absorption at 254 nm. It is found to strongly differ in a small example set of samples from a background site near Leipzig, Germany. In winter, the most intense signals were obtained for the largest molecules (>520 g/mol) with low polarity (log P ∼ 1.9), whereas in summer, smaller (225-330 g/mol) and more polar (log P ∼ 0.55) molecules dominate. The method reveals such differences in HULIS composition in a more detailed manner than previously possible and can therefore help to better elucidate the sources of HULIS in different seasons or at different sites. Analyzing Suwannee river fulvic acid as a common HULIS surrogate shows a similar polarity range, but the sizes are clearly larger than those of atmospheric HULIS.