The polarity distribution of water-soluble organic matter (WSOM) is believed to play an important role in determining the water uptake properties of aerosol particles. The 1-octanol − water partitioning method has been proposed as a method for classifying WSOM by polarity. However, the broad partitioning functions of the method make it difficult to estimate polarity distribution. In this study, a data inversion technique was developed to determine the polarity distributions of WSOM. The inversion technique was evaluated against artificially generated polarity distributions with corresponding uncertainties. In addition, the technique was combined with positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis of the aerosol mass spectrometric data, allowing an estimation of the polarity distribution of the PMF factors. The technique was applied to WSOM generated by smoldering mosquito coils. As the 1-octanol − water partitioning coefficients of WSOM correlate well with water solubility, future application of this method to the investigation of hygroscopic growth and cloud condensation nucleus (CCN) activity will help to quantitatively connect the chemical characteristics and water uptake properties of WSOM.

据信水溶性有机物（WSOM）的极性分布在确定气溶胶颗粒的吸水特性方面起着重要作用。已经提出了1-辛醇-水分配方法作为通过极性对WSOM进行分类的方法。然而，该方法的广泛划分功能使得难以估计极性分布。在这项研究中，开发了一种数据反演技术来确定WSOM的极性分布。针对具有相应不确定性的人工生成的极性分布对反演技术进行了评估。此外，该技术还与气溶胶质谱数据的正矩阵分解（PMF）分析相结合，可以估算PMF因子的极性分布。该技术已应用于通过对蚊香进行阴燃而产生的WSOM。由于WSOM的1-辛醇-水分配系数与水溶性密切相关，因此该方法在研究吸湿性增长和云凝结核（CCN）活性方面的未来应用将有助于定量地联系WSOM的化学特性和吸水特性。