We
present a data analysis workflow for nontarget tandem high-resolution
mass spectrometry (MS), with the aim being full speciation of functionalized
organic compounds in complex atmospheric samples without unambiguous
molecular structure assignment. The workflow was demonstrated for
four types of samples, including primary-emission aerosols, secondary
organic aerosols, ambient aerosols, and rainwater, but could be applicable
to other environmental samples. With a single mass spectrometry run,
the combined MS1 and MS2 analysis provided molecular
formula, functional group, and aromaticity information for 68.1–88.8%
of deprotonated molecules and 58.6–84.7% of protonated molecules.
We determined relative abundances of 22 and 21 compound categories
for deprotonated and protonated molecules, respectively, on the basis
of the assignment of a variety of oxygen-, nitrogen-, and sulfur-containing
functional groups. Molar concentrations of compound categories were
further semiquantified with surrogate standards in electrospray ionization
negative mode, ranging from 10–4 to 1 nmol (μg
of source aerosol mass)−1, from 3 × 10–3 to 2 nmol m–3 in the atmosphere,
and from 2 × 10–3 to 1 nmol (mL of rainwater)−1. The assignment and quantification of functional
groups provided new chemical fingerprints of organic compounds to
trace their sources, formation, and aging in the atmosphere and also
allowed the use of group contribution methods to study the physicochemical
properties of organic aerosols.