Particulate organic nitrogen at an agricultural region in South Africa

An assessment of the characteristics and sources of organic N compounds in atmospheric aerosols collected at a savanna-grassland agricultural background region was conducted utilising comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. 135 organic N compounds were characterised and semi-quantified.

Amines contributed to 51% of the semi-quantified concentrations, while nitriles, pyridine derivatives, and amides comprised 20%, 11%, and 8%, respectively, of the semi-quantified concentrations. Anthropogenic sources impacting air masses measured at Welgegund, as well as regional agricultural activities, were considered as the major sources of organic N species.