Characterization of fine organic particulate matter from Chinese cooking

PM 2.5 samples were collected by a three-stage cascade impactor at two kinds of Chinese restaurants to characterize fine organic particulate matter from Chinese cooking sources. Major individual organic compounds have been quantified by GC/MS, including series of alkanes, n-alkanoic acids, n-alkanals, alkan-2-ones and PAHs. Alkanes and ketones make up a significant fraction of particle-phase organic compounds, ranging from C 11 to C 26, and C 9 to C 19, respectively. In addition, other organic compound classes have been identified, such as alkanols, esters, furans, lactones, amides, and nitriles. The mass concentrations of fine particles, alkanes, n-alkanoic acids and PAHs in air emitted from the Uigur style cooking are hundreds times higher than ambient PM 2.5in Beijing.