| Abstract
| - The occurrence of n-alkanoic acids, amides, and nitrilesin samples of aerosol particulate matter from Kuala Lumpurand Santiago suggests that emissions from cooking andbiomass burning are the primary sources of these organicmarkers in the atmosphere. It is proposed that fattyacids react with ammonia during biomass burning orcombustion to produce amides and nitriles, which can beapplied as useful biomarker tracers. To test this hypothesis,nonadecanoic acid and hexadecanamide were usedas reactants in hydrous pyrolysis experiments. Theseexperiments produced amides and nitriles and indicatedthat ammonia is an essential agent in their formation. Thusamides and nitriles are of utility as indicators for inputfrom combustion and biomass burning in the ambientatmosphere.
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