Analytical methods for determining organic compounds present in the particulate matter from outdoor air

Different analytical techniques can be used to chemically characterize the atmospheric particulate matter, and to provide information about the concentration range, sources, fates and distributions of different atmospheric pollutants. This review describes the available and currently most-used analytical methods for PM characterization. Although it is not an exhaustive study about the whole characterization of the air PM, some particular case studies are presented. Most of the methods described are mainly based on gas chromatography, although techniques such as liquid chromatography or others, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, are also presented. Moreover, sample pre-treatments, extraction and clean-up techniques and the mentioned determination techniques are described and discussed, showing their main features as well as their advantages and drawbacks. Therefore, this review could be a useful guide for readers to choose the most suitable techniques for their purposes since it reports different advances in PM characterization during the last decade.