scholarly journals Measurement report: Particle-size-dependent fluorescence properties of water-soluble organic compounds (WSOCs) and their atmospheric implications for the aging of WSOCs

2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 465-479
Author(s):  
Juanjuan Qin ◽  
Jihua Tan ◽  
Xueming Zhou ◽  
Yanrong Yang ◽  
Yuanyuan Qin ◽  
...  

Abstract. Water-soluble organic compounds (WSOCs) play important roles in atmospheric particle formation, migration, and transformation processes. Size-segregated atmospheric particles were collected in a rural area of Beijing. Three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy was used to investigate the optical properties of WSOCs as a means of inferring information about their atmospheric sources. Sophisticated analysis on fluorescence data was performed to characteristically estimate the connections among particles of different sizes. WSOC concentrations and the average fluorescence intensity (AFI) showed a monomodal distribution in winter and a bimodal distribution in summer, with the dominant mode in the 0.26–0.44 µm size range in both seasons. The excitation–emission matrix (EEM) spectra of WSOCs varied with particle size, likely due to changing sources and/or the chemical transformation of organics. Size distributions of the fluorescence regional integration (regions III and V) and humification index (HIX) indicate that the humification degree or aromaticity of WSOCs was the highest in the particle size range of 0.26–0.44 µm. The Stokes shift (SS) and the harmonic mean of the excitation and emission wavelengths (WH) reflected that π-conjugated systems were high in the same particle size range. The parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) results showed that humic-like substances were abundant in fine particles (< 1 µm) and peaked at 0.26–0.44 µm. All evidence supported the fact that the humification degree of WSOCs increased with particle size in the submicron mode (< 0.44 µm) and then decreased gradually with particle size, which implied that the condensation of organics occurred in submicron particles, resulting in the highest degree of humification in the particle size range of 0.26–0.44 µm rather than in the < 0.26 µm range. Synthetically analyzing three-dimensional fluorescence data could efficiently reveal the secondary transformation processes of WSOCs.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juanjuan Qin ◽  
Jihua Tan ◽  
Xueming Zhou ◽  
Yanrong Yang ◽  
Yuanyuan Qin ◽  
...  

Abstract. Water-soluble organic compounds (WSOC) are essential in atmospheric particle formation, migration, and transformation processes. Size-segregated atmospheric particles were collected in a rural area of Beijing. Excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy was used to investigate the sources and optical properties of WSOC. Sophisticated data analysis on EEM data was performed to characteristically estimate the underlying connections among aerosol particles in different sizes. The WSOC concentrations and average fluorescence intensity (AFI) showed monomodal distribution in winter and bimodal distribution in summer, with dominant mode between 0.26 to 0.44 µm for both seasons. The EEM spectra of size-segregated WSOC were different among variant particle sizes, which could be the results of changing sources and/or chemical transformation of organics. Size distributions of fluorescence regional intensity (region Ⅲ and Ⅴ) and HIX indicate that humification degree or aromaticity of WSOC was highest between 0.26 to 0.44 µm. The Stokes shift (SS) and the harmonic mean of the excitation and emission wavelengths (WH) reflected that π-conjugated systems were high between 0.26 to 0.44 µm as well. The parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) results showed that humic-like substances were abundant in fine particles (< 1 µm) and peaked at 0.26–0.44 µm. All evidence supported that the humification degree of WSOC increased in submicron mode (< 0.44 µm) and decreased gradually. Thus, it was conjectured that condensation of organics still goes on in submicron mode, resulting in the highest humification degree exhibit in particle size between 0.26 to 0.44 µm rather than < 0.26 µm. Synthetically analyzing 3-dimensional fluorescence data could efficiently present the secondary transformation processes of WSOC.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trevor McKenzie ◽  
Michael Twardowski ◽  
Nathan Briggs ◽  
Aditya R. Nayak ◽  
Kevin M. Boswell ◽  
...  

The ocean’s mesopelagic zone is largely uncharacterized despite its vital role in sustaining ocean ecosystems. The composition, cycling, and fate of particle fields in the mesopelagic lacks an integrative multi-scale understanding of organism migration patterns, distribution, and diversity. This problem is addressed by combining complementary technologies with overlapping size spectra, including profiler mounted optical scattering sensors, profiler, and ship mounted acoustic devices, and a custom Unobtrusive Multi-Static Lidar Imager (UMSLI). This unique sensor suite can observe distributions of particles including organisms over a six order of magnitude dynamic size range, from microns to meters. Overlapping size ranges between different methods allows for cross-validation. This work focuses on the lidar imaging measurements and optical backscattering and attenuation, covering a combined particle size range of 0.1 mm to several cm. Particles at the small end of this range are sized using an existing backscattering time series inversion method after Briggs et al. (2013). Larger particles are resolved with UMSLI over an expanding volume using three-dimensional photo-realistic laser serial imaging. UMSLI’s image rectifying ability over time allows for derivation of particle concentration, size, and spatial distribution. Technical details on the development and post-processing methods for the novel UMSLI system are provided. Image resolved particle size distributions (PSDs) revealed a size shift from smaller to larger particles (&gt;0.5 mm) as indicated by flatter slopes from dawn (slope = 2.6) to dusk (slope = 3.0). PSD trends are supported by an optical backscatter and transmissometer time series inversion analysis. Size shifts in the particle field are largely attributed to aggregation effects. Images support evidence of temporal variation between dusk and dawn stations through statistical analysis of particle concentrations for particle sizes 0.50–5.41 mm. Spatial analysis of the particle field revealed a dominantly uniform distributed marine snow background. The importance and potential of integrated approaches to studying particle and organism dynamics in ocean environments are discussed.


2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Aizenberg ◽  
P. Baron ◽  
K. Choe ◽  
S. Grinshpun ◽  
K. Willeke

2015 ◽  
Vol 48 (17) ◽  
pp. 92-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Botha ◽  
Ian K. Craig ◽  
Johan D. le Roux

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Razif Harun ◽  
Michael K. Danquah ◽  
Selvakumar Thiruvenkadam

Effective optimization of microalgae-to-bioethanol process systems hinges on an in-depth characterization of key process parameters relevant to the overall bioprocess engineering. One of the such important variables is the biomass particle size distribution and the effects on saccharification levels and bioethanol titres. This study examined the effects of three different microalgal biomass particle size ranges, 35 μm ≤x≤ 90 μm, 125 μm ≤x≤ 180 μm, and 295 μm ≤x≤ 425 μm, on the degree of enzymatic hydrolysis and bioethanol production. Two scenarios were investigated: single enzyme hydrolysis (cellulase) and double enzyme hydrolysis (cellulase and cellobiase). The glucose yield from biomass in the smallest particle size range (35 μm ≤x≤ 90 μm) was the highest, 134.73 mg glucose/g algae, while the yield from biomass in the larger particle size range (295 μm ≤x≤ 425 μm) was 75.45 mg glucose/g algae. A similar trend was observed for bioethanol yield, with the highest yield of 0.47 g EtOH/g glucose obtained from biomass in the smallest particle size range. The results have shown that the microalgal biomass particle size has a significant effect on enzymatic hydrolysis and bioethanol yield.


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