scholarly journals Chemical composition of ultrafine aerosol particles in central Amazonia during the wet season

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayley S. Glicker ◽  
Michael J. Lawler ◽  
John Ortega ◽  
Suzane S. de Sá ◽  
Scot T. Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Ultrafine Particles ◽  
Organic Nitrogen ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Nitrogen Species ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Back Trajectories ◽  
Background Period ◽  
Central Amazonia ◽  
Ultrafine Aerosol

Abstract. Central Amazonia serves as an ideal location to study atmospheric particle formation since it often can be characterized as representing natural, pre-industrial conditions but can also experience periods of anthropogenic influence due to the presence of emissions from large metropolitan areas like Manaus, Brazil. Ultrafine (sub-100 nm diameter) particles are often observed in this region, although new particle formation events seldom occur near the ground despite being readily observed in other forested regions with similar emissions. This study focuses on identifying the chemical composition of ultrafine particles as a means of determining the chemical species and mechanisms that may be responsible for new particle formation and growth in the region. These measurements were performed during the wet season as part of the GoAmazon2014/5 field campaign at a site located 70 km southwest of Manaus. A Thermal Desorption Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer (TDCIMS) measured the concentrations of the most abundant compounds detected in ultrafine particles. Two time periods representing distinct influences on aerosol composition, which we label as anthropogenic and background periods, were studied as part of a larger ten-day period of analysis. The anthropogenic period saw higher particle number concentrations and modeled back-trajectories indicate transport of emissions from the Manaus metropolitan area. The background period saw much lower number concentrations and back-trajectories showed that air masses arrived at the site predominantly from the forested regions to the north and northeast. TDCIMS-measured constituents also show distinct differences between the two observational periods. Although bisulfate was detected in particles during the ten-day period, the anthropogenic period had increased levels of particulate bisulfate overall. Additionally, with larger fractions of bisulfate observed, increased fractions of ammonium and trimethyl ammonium were observed. The background period had distinct diurnal patterns of particulate organic nitrogen species and acetate, while oxalate remained relatively constant during the ten-day period. 3-Methylfuran, a thermal decomposition product of particulate phase isoprene epoxydiol (IEPOX), was the dominant species measured in the positive ion mode. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed on the TDCIMS-measured ion abundance and Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS) mass concentration data. Two different hierarchical clusters representing unique influences arise: one relating ultrafine particulate acetate, hydrogen oxalate, organic nitrogen species, trimethyl ammonium and 3-methylfuran with each other and ultrafine particulate bisulfate, chloride, ammonium and potassium. A third cluster separated AMS-measured species from the two TDCIMS-derived clusters, indicating different sources or processes in ultrafine aerosol particle formation compared to submicron-sized particles.

scholarly journals Chemical composition of ultrafine aerosol particles in central Amazonia during the wet season

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (20) ◽  
pp. 13053-13066
Author(s):  
Hayley S. Glicker ◽  
Michael J. Lawler ◽  
John Ortega ◽  
Suzane S. de Sá ◽  
Scot T. Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Ultrafine Particles ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Back Trajectory ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Background Period ◽  
Central Amazonia ◽  
Ultrafine Aerosol

Abstract. Central Amazonia serves as an ideal location to study atmospheric particle formation, since it often represents nearly natural, pre-industrial conditions but can also experience periods of anthropogenic influence due to the presence of emissions from large metropolitan areas like Manaus, Brazil. Ultrafine (sub-100 nm diameter) particles are often observed in this region, although new particle formation events seldom occur near the ground despite being readily observed in other forested regions with similar emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This study focuses on identifying the chemical composition of ultrafine particles as a means of determining the chemical species and mechanisms that may be responsible for new particle formation and growth in the region. These measurements were performed during the wet season as part of the Observations and Modeling of the Green Ocean Amazon (GoAmazon2014/5) field campaign at a site located 70 km southwest of Manaus. A thermal desorption chemical ionization mass spectrometer (TDCIMS) characterized the most abundant compounds detected in ultrafine particles. Two time periods representing distinct influences on aerosol composition, which we label as “anthropogenic” and “background” periods, were studied as part of a larger 10 d period of analysis. Higher particle number concentrations were measured during the anthropogenic period, and modeled back-trajectory frequencies indicate transport of emissions from the Manaus metropolitan area. During the background period there were much lower number concentrations, and back-trajectory frequencies showed that air masses arrived at the site predominantly from the forested regions to the north and northeast. TDCIMS-measured constituents also show distinct differences between the two observational periods. Although bisulfate was detected in particles throughout the 10 d period, the anthropogenic period had higher levels of particulate bisulfate overall. Ammonium and trimethyl ammonium were positively correlated with bisulfate. The background period had distinct diurnal patterns of particulate cyanate and acetate, while oxalate remained relatively constant during the 10 d period. 3-Methylfuran, a thermal decomposition product of a particulate-phase isoprene epoxydiol (IEPOX), was the dominant species measured in the positive-ion mode. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on the TDCIMS-measured ion abundance and aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS) mass concentration data. Two different hierarchical clusters representing unique influences arise: one comprising ultrafine particulate acetate, hydrogen oxalate, cyanate, trimethyl ammonium and 3-methylfuran and another made up of ultrafine particulate bisulfate, chloride, ammonium and potassium. A third cluster separated AMS-measured species from the two TDCIMS-derived clusters, indicating different sources or processes in ultrafine aerosol particle formation compared to larger submicron-sized particles.

scholarly journals Supplementary material to "Chemical composition of ultrafine aerosol particles in central Amazonia during the wet season"

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayley S. Glicker ◽  
Michael J. Lawler ◽  
John Ortega ◽  
Suzane S. de Sá ◽  
Scot T. Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Central Amazonia ◽  
Supplementary Material ◽  
Ultrafine Aerosol

Chemical composition of aerosol during particle formation events in boreal forest

Tellus B ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 380-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. MÄKELÄ ◽  
S. YLI‐KOIVISTO ◽  
V. HILTUNEN ◽  
W. SEIDL ◽  
E. SWIETLICKI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Particle Formation

scholarly journals Seasonal variations in PM10 inorganic composition in the Andean city

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasa Zalakeviciute ◽  
Katiuska Alexandrino ◽  
Yves Rybarczyk ◽  
Alexis Debut ◽  
Karla Vizuete ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Chemical Elements ◽  
Large Fraction ◽  
Urban Pollution ◽  
Optical Emission ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Soluble Ions

Abstract Particulate matter (PM) is one of the key pollutants causing health risks worldwide. While the preoccupation for increased concentrations of these particles mainly depends on their sources and thus chemical composition, some regions are yet not well investigated. In this work the composition of chemical elements of atmospheric PM10 (particles with aerodynamic diameters ≤ 10 µm), collected at the urban and suburban sites in high elevation tropical city, were chemically analysed during the dry and wet seasons of 2017–2018. A large fraction (~ 68%) of PM10 composition in Quito, Ecuador is accounted for by water-soluble ions and 16 elements analysed using UV/VIS spectrophotometer and Inductively Coupled Plasma—Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Hierarchical clustering analysis was performed to study a correlation between the chemical composition of urban pollution and meteorological parameters. The suburban area displays an increase in PM10 concentrations and natural elemental markers during the dry (increased wind intensity, resuspension of soil dust) season. Meanwhile, densely urbanized area shows increased total PM10 concentrations and anthropogenic elemental markers during the wet season, which may point to the worsened combustion and traffic conditions. This might indicate the prevalence of cardiovascular and respiratory problems in motorized areas of the cities in the developing world.

scholarly journals Aircraft measurements of polar organic tracer compounds in tropospheric particles (PM<sub>10</sub>) over central China

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 4185-4199 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Q. Fu ◽  
K. Kawamura ◽  
Y. F. Cheng ◽  
S. Hatakeyama ◽  
A. Takami ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Nitrogen ◽  
Ground Surface ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Central China ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Aircraft Measurements ◽  
Nitrogen Species ◽  
West China ◽  
Biological Aerosols

Abstract. Atmospheric aerosol samples were collected by aircraft at low to middle altitudes (0.8–3.5 km a.g.l.) over central East to West China during summer 2003 and spring 2004. The samples were analyzed for polar organic compounds using a technique of solvent extraction/BSTFA derivatization/gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Biogenic secondary organic aerosol (SOA) tracers from the oxidation of isoprene were found to be more abundant in summer (3.3–138 ng m−3, mean 39 ng m−3) than in spring (3.2–42 ng m−3, 15 ng m−3), while α/β-pinene and β-caryophyllene SOA tracers showed similar abundances between these two seasons. A strong positive correlation (R2 = 0.83) between levoglucosan and β-caryophyllinic acid was found in the spring samples vs. a weak correlation (R2 = 0.17) in the summer samples, implying substantial contributions from biomass burning to the β-caryophyllinic acid production in spring. Two organic nitrogen species (oxamic acid and carbamide) were detected in the aircraft aerosol samples, and their concentrations were comparable to those of biogenic SOA tracers. Most of the primary organic aerosol (POA) and SOA tracers were less abundant at higher altitudes, suggesting they are of ground surface origin, either being directly emitted from anthropogenic/natural sources on the ground surface, or rapidly formed through photooxidation of their precursors emitted from the ground surface and then diluted during uplifting into the troposphere. This study demonstrates that primary biological aerosols, biogenic SOA, and organic nitrogen species are important components of organic aerosols in the troposphere over central China during warm seasons.

scholarly journals Effects of SO<sub>2</sub> oxidation on ambient aerosol growth in water and ethanol vapours

2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 767-779 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Petäjä ◽  
V.-M. Kerminen ◽  
K. Hämeri ◽  
P. Vaattovaara ◽  
J. Joutsensaari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Sulphuric Acid ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Similar Chemical ◽  
Ethanol Vapours ◽  
Hygroscopic Particles ◽  
Ultrafine Aerosol

Abstract. Hygroscopicity (i.e. water vapour affinity) of atmospheric aerosol particles is one of the key factors in defining their impacts on climate. Condensation of sulphuric acid onto less hygroscopic particles is expected to increase their hygrocopicity and hence their cloud condensation nuclei formation potential. In this study, differences in the hygroscopic and ethanol uptake properties of ultrafine aerosol particles in the Arctic air masses with a different exposure to anthropogenic sulfur pollution were examined. The main discovery was that Aitken mode particles having been exposed to polluted air were more hygroscopic and less soluble to ethanol than after transport in clean air. This aging process was attributed to sulphur dioxide oxidation and subsequent condensation during the transport of these particle to our measurement site. The hygroscopicity of nucleation mode aerosol particles, on the other hand, was approximately the same in all the cases, being indicative of a relatively similar chemical composition despite the differences in air mass transport routes. These particles had also been produced closer to the observation site typically 3–8 h prior to sampling. Apparently, these particles did not have an opportunity to accumulate sulphuric acid on their way to the site, but instead their chemical composition (hygroscopicity and ethanol solubility) resembled that of particles produced in the local or semi-regional ambient conditions.

Qualitative and Quantitative Characterization of Airport-related Ultrafine Particles using Liquid Chromatography – High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC/HRMS)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Ungeheuer ◽  
Diana Rose ◽  
Dominik van Pinxteren ◽  
Florian Ditas ◽  
Stefan Jacobi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Ultrafine Particles ◽  
Chemical Characterization ◽  
Engine Oil ◽  
Aircraft Emissions ◽  
Jet Engine ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Ionization Mode ◽  
Lubrication Oils

&lt;p&gt;We present the results from a chemical characterization study of ultrafine particles (UFP), collected nearby Frankfurt International Airport where particle size distribution measurements showed high number concentrations for particles with a diameter &lt;50 nm. Aluminium filter samples were collected at an air quality monitoring station in a distance of 4 km to Frankfurt airport, using the 13-stage cascade impactor Nano-MOUDI (MSP Model-115). The chemical characterization of the ultrafine particles in the size range of 0.010-0.018 &amp;#956;m, 0.018-0.032 &amp;#956;m and 0.032-0.056 &amp;#956;m was accomplished by the development of an optimized filter extraction method. An UHPLC method for chromatographic separation of homologous series of hydrophobic and high molecular weight organic compounds, followed by heated electrospray ionization (ESI) and mass analysis using an Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometer was developed. Using a non-target screening, ~200 compounds were detected in the positive ionization mode after filtering, in order to ensure high quality of the obtained data. We determined the molecular formula of positively charged adducts ([M+H]&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;; [M+Na]&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;), and for each impaction stage we present molecular fingerprints (Molecular weight vs Retention time, Kroll-diagram, Van-Krevelen-diagram, Kendrick mass defect plot) in order to visualize the complex chemical composition. The negative ionization mode led only to the detection of a few compounds (&lt;20) for which reason the particle characterization focuses on the positive ionization mode. We found that the majority of detected compounds belong to homologous series of two different kinds of organic esters, which are base stocks of aircraft lubrication oils. In reference to five different jet engine lubrication oils of various manufacturers, we identified the corresponding lubricant base stocks and their additives in the ultrafine particles by the use of matching retention time, exact mass and MS/MS fragmentation pattern of single organic molecules. As the relevance of the chemical composition of UFP regarding human health is depending on the mass contribution of each compound we strived for quantification of the jet engine oil compounds. This was achieved by standard addition of purchased original standards to the native sample extracts. Two amines serving as stabilizers, one organophosphate used as an anti-wear agent/metal deactivator and two ester base stocks were quantified. Quantification of the two homologous ester series was carried out using one ester compound and cross-calibration. The quantitative determination is burdened by the uncertainty regarding sampling artefacts in the Nano-MOUDI. Therefore we characterized the cascade impactor in a lab experiment using the ester standard. Particle size distribution measurements conducted parallel to the filter sampling enables the determination of jet engine oil contribution to the UFP mass. Results indicate that aircraft emissions strongly influence the mass balance of 0.010-0.018 &amp;#956;m particles. This contribution decreases for bigger sized particles (0.018-0.056 &amp;#956;m) as presumably more sources get involved. The hereby-introduced method allows the qualitative and quantitative assignment of aircraft emissions towards the chemical composition and total mass of airport related ultrafine particles.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals The importance of sesquiterpene oxidation products for secondary organic aerosol formation in a spring-time hemi-boreal forest

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis M. F. Barreira ◽  
Arttu Ylisirniö ◽  
Iida Pullinen ◽  
Angela Buchholz ◽  
Zijun Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Oxidation Products ◽  
Ionization Mass ◽  
Particle Phase ◽  
Aerosol Formation

Abstract. Secondary organic aerosols (SOA) formed from biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) constitute a significant fraction of atmospheric particulate matter and have been recognized to affect significantly the climate and air quality. Many laboratory and field experiments have studied SOA particle formation and growth in the recent years. Most of them have focused on a few monoterpenes and isoprene. However, atmospheric SOA particulate mass yields and chemical composition result from a much more complex mixture of oxidation products originating from many BVOCs, including terpenes other than isoprene and monoterpenes. Thus, a large uncertainty still remains regarding the contribution of BVOCs to SOA. In particular, organic compounds formed from sesquiterpenes have not been thoroughly investigated, and their contribution to SOA remains poorly characterized. In this study, a Filter Inlet for Gases and Aerosols (FIGAERO) combined with a high-resolution time-of-flight chemical ionization mass spectrometer (CIMS), with iodide ionization, was used for the simultaneous measurement of gas and particle phase atmospheric SOA. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relative contribution of sesquiterpene oxidation products to SOA in a spring-time hemi-boreal forest environment. Our results revealed that monoterpene and sesquiterpene oxidation products were the main contributors to SOA particles. The chemical composition of SOA particles was compared for times when either monoterpene or sesquiterpene oxidation products were dominant and possible key oxidation products for SOA particle formation were identified. Surprisingly, sesquiterpene oxidation products were the predominant fraction in the particle phase at some periods, while their gas phase concentrations remained much lower than those of monoterpene products. This can be explained by quick and effective partitioning of sesquiterpene products into the particle phase or their efficient removal by dry deposition. The SOA particle volatility determined from measured thermograms increased when the concentration of sesquiterpene oxidation products in SOA particles was higher than that of monoterpenes. Overall, this study demonstrates the important role of sesquiterpenes in atmospheric chemistry and suggests that the contribution of their products to SOA particles is being underestimated in comparison to the most studied terpenes.

scholarly journals Summertime observations of elevated levels of ultrafine particles in the high Arctic marine boundary layer

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 5515-5535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Burkart ◽  
Megan D. Willis ◽  
Heiko Bozem ◽  
Jennie L. Thomas ◽  
Kathy Law ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Ultrafine Particles ◽  
Marine Boundary Layer ◽  
Ultrafine Particle ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Open Ocean ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Depositional Processes

Abstract. Motivated by increasing levels of open ocean in the Arctic summer and the lack of prior altitude-resolved studies, extensive aerosol measurements were made during 11 flights of the NETCARE July 2014 airborne campaign from Resolute Bay, Nunavut. Flights included vertical profiles (60 to 3000 m above ground level) over open ocean, fast ice, and boundary layer clouds and fogs. A general conclusion, from observations of particle numbers between 5 and 20 nm in diameter (N5 − 20), is that ultrafine particle formation occurs readily in the Canadian high Arctic marine boundary layer, especially just above ocean and clouds, reaching values of a few thousand particles cm−3. By contrast, ultrafine particle concentrations are much lower in the free troposphere. Elevated levels of larger particles (for example, from 20 to 40 nm in size, N20 − 40) are sometimes associated with high N5 − 20, especially over low clouds, suggestive of aerosol growth. The number densities of particles greater than 40 nm in diameter (N >  40) are relatively depleted at the lowest altitudes, indicative of depositional processes that will lower the condensation sink and promote new particle formation. The number of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN; measured at 0.6 % supersaturation) are positively correlated with the numbers of small particles (down to roughly 30 nm), indicating that some fraction of these newly formed particles are capable of being involved in cloud activation. Given that the summertime marine Arctic is a biologically active region, it is important to better establish the links between emissions from the ocean and the formation and growth of ultrafine particles within this rapidly changing environment.

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