Determination of levoglucosan in atmospheric aerosols using high performance liquid chromatography with aerosol charge detection

A sensitive method for analysis of levoglucosan (1,6-anhydro-β,d-glucopyranose) and other monosaccharide anhydrides, compounds present in biomass combustion smoke, was investigated employing high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with recently developed aerosol charge detection. Aerosol charge detection involves the conversion of the column effluent to an aerosol, which is charged to produce a current. Use of a cation-exchange column and a pure water eluent was found to separate levoglucosan and mannosan from other aerosol components with a detection limit of about 90 ng mL−1 for levoglucosan or 5 ng injected. This method was demonstrated by successful analysis of aerosol filter samples from three locations.