Fraser, Matthew P.2018-12-032018-12-032008Jia, Yuling. "Characterization of sugars in fine particles – Biomass burning and soil organic matter as two major sources." (2008) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/103576">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/103576</a>.https://hdl.handle.net/1911/103576Fine particulate matter samples were collected at two rural sites and one urban site in Texas from November 2005 to July 2006 for quantification of sugars. Several extraction methods were applied to optimize sugar recovery, and the combination of dichloromethane and methanol was found to extract sugars with greater efficiency than other solvent suites. Concentrations of total fine particle sugars ranged from 22 to 164 ng/m 3 , with levoglucosan, glucose, mannitol, arabitol and glycerol measured at the largest concentrations at all sites. The presence of sugars in fine particle samples can be tied to both biomass burning and soil organic matter. Smaller influence of reintrainment of local soils to the atmosphere was found at the urban site than at the rural sites. Several sugar compounds were proposed as potential molecular markers for soil organic matter input into the atmosphere.88 ppengCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.Environmental scienceEnvironmental engineeringHealth and environmental sciencesApplied sciencesThesis304509282THESIS C.E. 2008 JIA