The molecular characterization of water-soluble organic compounds (WSOC), a large fraction of the organic mass found in the atmospheric aerosols, is important to better understand emissions and atmospheric processes influencing the particulate pollution in most urban areas. This study deals with the development of a routine method using ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) for rapid analysis of primary and secondary organic compounds distributed among three classes: (i) benzene polycarboxylic acids; (ii) nitroaromatic acids and (iii) nitrophenols in ambient particles. Using an UPLC HSS T3 column with a mobile phase consisting of formic acid/acetonitrile under gradient elution, all target analytes were eluted within a total time of 12 min. Although some targeted analytes with different m/z were not resolved, a quantitation of these compounds was carried by distinct multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions. Quality parameters of the method were established. The method was proven to be sensitive with limits of detection ranged from 0.02 to 0.89 ng/mL. Together with a simple sample preparation and the use of labeled internal standards, the method was confirmed to be robust and reliable to determine a large number of organic tracers in atmospheric particulate matter samples. The analytical procedure was also applied to assess the abundance and characteristics of target analytes in PM_2.5 emitted from diesel and gasoline-powered engines, and Urban Dust and Diesel Particulate Matter Standard Reference Materials (SRM 1649b and SRM 1650b, respectively). The obtained results suggest that trimellitic, 4-hydroxyphthalic and 4-nitrophthalic acids may be used as potential tracers for diesel engine emissions. Clear differences in distribution of target species were observed between urban PM_2.5 affected by the traffic and biomass burning emissions.

水溶性有机化合物 (WSOC) 是大气气溶胶中有机物的很大一部分，其分子特征对于更好地了解影响大多数城市地区颗粒物污染的排放和大气过程非常重要。本研究涉及开发一种使用超高压液相色谱-电喷雾电离-三重四极杆质谱 (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) 的常规方法，用于快速分析分布在三类中的初级和次级有机化合物：(i) 苯聚羧酸；环境颗粒物中的 (ii) 硝基芳香酸和 (iii) 硝基酚。使用 UPLC HSS T3 柱和由甲酸/乙腈组成的流动相，在梯度洗脱下，所有目标分析物在 12 分钟的总时间内被洗脱。尽管一些具有不同m/z的目标分析物未得到分离，但这些化合物的定量是通过不同的多反应监测 (MRM) 转变进行的。建立了该方法的质量参数。该方法被证明是灵敏的，检测限范围为 0.02 至 0.89 ng/mL。再加上简单的样品制备和标记内标的使用，该方法被证实稳健可靠，可以测定大气颗粒物样品中的大量有机示踪剂。该分析程序还用于评估柴油和汽油发动机排放的 PM _2.5以及城市灰尘和柴油颗粒物标准参考物质（分别为 SRM 1649b 和 SRM 1650b）中目标分析物的丰度和特征。 所得结果表明偏苯三酸、4-羟基邻苯二甲酸和4-硝基邻苯二甲酸可用作柴油发动机排放的潜在示踪剂。受交通和生物质燃烧排放影响的城市 PM _2.5之间的目标物种分布存在明显差异。