Unipolar Charging of Nanosized Aerosol Particles Using Soft X-ray Photoionization

Abstract. Samples of atmospheric aerosol particles were collected in Valladolid, Spain, during the winter of 2003-2004. The measurements were made with a Dekati PM10 cascade impactor with four size stages: greater than 10 µm, between 2.5 to 10 µm, 1 to 2.5 µm and less than 1 µm. The size and shape of the particles were analyzed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and elemental analysis was done with an energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX). We present an evaluation by size, shape and composition of the major particulate species in the Valladolid urban atmosphere. The total aerosol concentration is very variable, ranging from 39.86 µg·m-3 to 184.88 µg·m-3 with the coarse particles as the dominant mass fraction. Emphasis was given to fine particles (<1 µm), for which the visible (400 nm to 650 nm) light absorption coefficients were measured using the integrating plate technique. We have made some enhancements in the illumination system of this measurement system. The absorption coefficient, σa, is highly variable and ranges from 7.33×10-6 m-1 to 1.01×10-4 m-1 at a wavelength of 550 nm. There is an inverse power law relationship between σa and wavelength, with an average exponent of -0.8.

Download Full-text

Qualitative X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis of Emitted Aerosol Particles from Incineration Plants Sampled on Quartz Fibre Filters

X-Ray Spectrometry ◽

10.1002/(sici)1097-4539(199703)26:2<79::aid-xrs203>3.0.co;2-m ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 79-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

O. Haupt ◽

K. Linnow ◽

R. Harmel ◽

C. Schaefer ◽

W. Dannecker

Keyword(s):

Aerosol Particles ◽

Fluorescence Analysis ◽

X Ray ◽

Quartz Fibre

Download Full-text

Characterisation of individual aerosol particles collected during a haze episode in Incheon, Korea using the quantitative ED-EPMA technique

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-11-1327-2011 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 1327-1337 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

H. Geng ◽

J. Y. Ryu ◽

S. Maskey ◽

H.-J. Jung ◽

C.-U. Ro

Keyword(s):

Mineral Dust ◽

Aerosol Particles ◽

Relative Number ◽

Sea Salt ◽

Motor Vehicles ◽

Dust Particles ◽

Formation Mechanisms ◽

X Ray ◽

Haze Episode ◽

Haze Days

Abstract. A quantitative energy-dispersive electron probe X-ray microanalysis (ED-EPMA), called low-Z particle EPMA, was used to analyse individual aerosol particles collected in Incheon, Korea on 13–18 October 2008 (a typical haze episode occurred from 15 to 18 October). Overall 3600 individual particles in PM2.5-10 and PM1.0-2.5 fractions from 12 aerosol samples collected on haze and non-haze days were analysed. The analysed particles were classified, based on their X-ray spectral data together with their secondary electron images. The major particle types included organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), sea-salt, mineral dust (such as aluminosilicate, SiO2, CaCO3/CaMgCO3, etc.), (NH4)2SO4/NH4HSO4-containing, K-containing, Fe-rich and fly ash particles. Their relative number abundance results showed that OC particles were significantly increased while sea-salts and mineral dust particles were significantly decreased (especially in PM1.0-2.5 fraction) when haze occurred. For the other particle types (except Fe-rich particles in PM2.5-10 fraction), there were no significant differences in their relative abundances between haze and non-haze samples. On non-haze days, the nitrate-containing reacted sea-salt and mineral dust particles in PM1.0-2.5 fraction significantly outnumbered the sulfate-containing ones, whereas it was the reverse on haze days, implying that on haze days there were special sources or formation mechanisms for fine aerosol particles (≤2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter). The emission of air pollutants from motor vehicles and stagnant meteorological conditions, such as low wind speed and high relative humidity, might be responsible for the elevated level of OC particles on haze days.

Download Full-text

Preliminary study of the individual ultrafine aerosol particles using a synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microprobe

Chinese Science Bulletin (Chinese Version) ◽

10.1360/972009-1403 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 55 (12) ◽

pp. 1107-1112

Author(s):

XiaoLin Li ◽

Sutton Matthew Newville Steve ◽

New-ville Matthew ◽

GuiLin Zhang ◽

JiangFeng Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aerosol Particles ◽

X Ray ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

The Individual ◽

Ultrafine Aerosol

Download Full-text

Elemental content of PM<sub>2.5</sub> aerosol particles collected in Göteborg during the Göte-2005 campaign in February 2005

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-9-2597-2009 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 2597-2606 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

J. Boman ◽

M. J. Gatari ◽

S. Janhäll ◽

A. S. Shannigrahi ◽

A. Wagner

Keyword(s):

Aerosol Particles ◽

Urban Air Pollution ◽

Trace Element Analysis ◽

Rural Site ◽

Elemental Content ◽

Local Wind ◽

Element Analysis ◽

Air Masses ◽

X Ray ◽

Urban Sites

Abstract. The Göte–2005 measurement campaign aimed at studying the influence of the winter thermal inversions on urban air pollution. Elemental speciation of PM2.5 aerosol particles, collected on Teflon filters at three urban sites and one rural site in the Göteborg region, was a major part of the study. Trace element analysis was done by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry and the concentrations of S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br and Pb were determined. The elemental content of the particles, local wind speed and direction, and backward trajectories were used to investigate possible sources for the pollutants. We concluded that S, V, Ni, Br, and Pb had their main sources outside the central Göteborg area, since elevated concentrations of these elements were not observed during an inversion episode. Sea traffic and harbour activities were identified, primarily by the S and V content of the particles. This study showed that the elemental analysis by EDXRF presents valuable information for tracing the origin of air masses arriving at a measurement site.

Download Full-text