Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) contributes a significant fraction to aerosol mass and toxicity.Low-volatility organic vapors are critical intermediates connecting the oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to SOA formation. However, the direct measurement of intermediate vapors poses a great challenge, further compounded by the difficulty of linking them to specific precursors from a cocktail of complex emission sources in the vast urbanized areas. Here, we present coordinated measurements of low-volatility oxidation products, termed oxygenated organic molecules (OOMs) in three most urbanized regions in China. With a newly-developed analysis methodology, we are able to assign these OOMs to their likely precursors and ultimately connect SOA formation to various VOCs. At all measurement locations, we find similar OOM

NaY zeolite catalysts with and without potassium salt modifications were studied with respect to dehydration of lactic acid to acrylic acid. The selectivity for acrylic acid could be dramatically enhanced by modification of the NaY catalysts with potassium salts. The KI-modified NaY catalyst exhibited the best catalytic performance for lactic acid dehydration, over which 97.6% conversion and 67.9% acrylic acid selectivity could be gained at 598 K. Characterizations with TGA, XRD, N2 adsorption, 27Al MAS NMR, XPS, NH3-TPD, CO2-TPD, and mechanism analysis revealed that the counteranions in potassium salts exerted a significant influence on the catalytic behaviors via an electronic effect.

Abstract. Haze pollution caused by PM2.5 is the largest air quality concern in China in recent years. Long-term measurements of PM2.5 and the precursors and chemical speciation are crucially important for evaluating the efficiency of emission control, understanding formation and transport of PM2.5 associated with the change of meteorology, and accessing the impact of human activities on regional climate change. Here we reported long-term continuous measurements of PM2.5, chemical components, and their precursors at a regional background station, the Station for Observing Regional Processes of the Earth System (SORPES), in Nanjing, eastern China, since 2011. We found that PM2.5 at the station has experienced a substantial decrease (−9.1 % yr−1), accompanied by even a very significant reduction of SO2 (−16.7 % yr−1), since the national “Ten Measures of Air” took action in 2013. Control of open biomass burning and fossil-fuel combustion are the two dominant factors that influence the PM2.5 reduction in early summer and winter, respectively. In the cold season (November–January), the nitrate fraction was significantly increased, especially when air masses were transported from the north. More NH3 available from a substantial reduction of SO2 and increased oxidization capacity are the main factors for the enhanced nitrate formation. The changes of year-to-year meteorology have contributed to 24 % of the PM2.5 decrease since 2013. This study highlights several important implications on air pollution control policy in China.

The popularity of humidity sensing for respiratory analysis of patients is gradually increasing because of its portability and cost-effectiveness. However, current flexible humidity sensors are mainly made of polymer films, whose poor hygroscopicity and breathability reduce their sensitivity and comfort. In this study, a highly sensitive humidity sensor was developed using non-woven fabric (NWF) coated with graphene oxide (GO). Bovine serum albumin was used to improve the adsorption of GO onto the NWF, and its effect on sensitivity was investigated by adjusting its concentration. Highhumidity sensitivity was experimentally validated by testing different relative humidity levels, and its fast response and excellent feasibility under diverse breathing conditions were verified by successful monitoring of fast and deep breathing, differentiating nose and mouth breathing, and even identifying simple spoken words. This study developed a breathable and skin-friendly humidity sensor based on GO/NWF, which is a promising device for human healthcare.

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