Stable isotope measurements of carbon fractions (OC/EC) in airborne particulate: A new dimension for source characterization and apportionment

Huang, Lin; Brook, Jeff; Zhang, Wan chun; Li, Shao-Meng; Graham, Lisa; Ernst, D.; Chivulescu, Alina; Lu, G.

doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2005.11.062

Cited by 137 publications

(138 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Details of the analytical methods and quality control remain the same as described by Li and Barrie (1993). The quartz filters are analyzed for OC and EC by thermal volatilization using three temperature steps, as discussed by Huang et al (2006), Chan et al (2010) and Sharma et al (2017). Here, OC from this thermal method (hereafter TM-OC) is based on the sum of OC at 550 • C and pyrolyzed OC (POC) at 870 • C. Rationale for including POC comes from isotopic analyses indicating little or no carbonate in the samples.…”

Section: Instrumental Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organic functional groups in the submicron aerosol at 82.5° N, 62.5° W from 2012 to 2014

et al. 2018

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Abstract. The first multi-year contributions from organic functional groups to the Arctic submicron aerosol are documented using 126 weekly-integrated samples collected from April 2012 to October 2014 at the Alert Observatory (82.45 • N, 62.51 • W). Results from the particle transport model FLEXPART, linear regressions among the organic and inorganic components and positive matrix factorization (PMF) enable associations of organic aerosol components with source types and regions. Lower organic mass (OM) concentrations but higher ratios of OM to non-sea-salt sulfate mass concentrations (nss-SO = 4 ) accompany smaller particles during the summer (JJA). Conversely, higher OM but lower OM / nss-SO = 4 accompany larger particles during winter-spring. OM ranges from 7 to 460 ng m −3 , and the study average is 129 ng m −3 . The monthly maximum in OM occurs during May, 1 month after the peak in nss-SO = 4 and 2 months after that of elemental carbon (EC). Winter (DJF), spring (MAM), summer and fall (SON) values of OM / nss-SO = 4 are 26, 28, 107 and 39 %, respectively, and overall about 40 % of the weekly variability in the OM is associated with nss-SO = 4 . Respective study-averaged concentrations of alkane, alcohol, acid, amine and carbonyl groups are 57, 24, 23, 15 and 11 ng m −3 , representing 42, 22, 18, 14 and 5 % of the OM, respectively. Carbonyl groups, detected mostly during spring, may have a connection with snow chemistry. The seasonally highest O / C occurs during winter (0.85) and the lowest O / C is during spring (0.51); increases in O / C are largely due to increases in alcohol groups. During winter, more than 50 % of the alcohol groups are associated with primary marine emissions, consistent with Shaw et al. (2010) and Frossard et al. (2011). A secondary marine connection, rather than a primary source, is suggested for the highest and most persistent O / C observed during the coolest and cleanest summer (2013), when alcohol and acid groups made up 63 % of the OM. A secondary marine source may be a general feature of the summer OM, but higher contributions from alkane groups to OM during the warmer summers of 2012 (53 %) and 2014 (50 %) were likely due to increased contributions from combustion sources. Evidence for significant contributions from biomass burning (BB) was present in 4 % of the weeks. During the dark months (NDJF), 29, 28 and 14 % of the nss-SO = 4 , EC and OM were associated with transport times over the gas flaring region of northern Russia and other parts of Eurasia. During spring, those percentages dropped to 11 % for each of nss-SO = 4 and EC values, respectively, and there is no association of OM.

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Section: Instrumental Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organic functional groups in the submicron aerosol at 82.5° N, 62.5° W from 2012 to 2014

et al. 2018

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“…In a study in Vancouver, δ 13 C of tunnel aerosols (relatively fresh aerosols) is reported to be ∼-27.3 ‰ for OC and EC fraction with no significant differences (Huang et al, 2006). reported δ 13 C values of aerosol TC for particles collected over a period of 1 yr (2001)(2002) at Gosan site in Jeju Island, South Korea.…”

Section: Stable Carbon Isotopic Compositions (δ 13 C) Of Total Carbonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organic and inorganic markers and stable C-, N-isotopic compositions of tropical coastal aerosols from megacity Mumbai: sources of organic aerosols and atmospheric processing

et al. 2013

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To better understand the sources of PM₁₀ samples in Mumbai, India, aerosol chemical composition, i.e., total carbon (TC), organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), and inorganic ions were studied together with specific markers such as methanesulfonate (MSA), oxalic acid (C₂), azelaic acid (C₉), and levoglucosan. The results revealed that biofuel/biomass burning and fossil fuel combustion are the major sources of the Mumbai aerosols. Nitrogen-isotopic (δ¹⁵N) composition of aerosol total nitrogen, which ranged from 18.1 to 25.4‰, also suggests that biofuel/biomass burning is a predominate source in both the summer and winter seasons. Aerosol mass concentrations of major species increased 3–4 times in winter compared to summer, indicating enhanced emission from these sources in the winter season. Photochemical production tracers, C₂ diacid and nssSO₄²⁻, do not show diurnal changes. Concentrations of C₂ diacid and WSOC show a strong correlation (r² = 0.95). In addition, WSOC to OC (or TC) ratios remain almost constant for daytime (0.37 ± 0.06 (0.28 ± 0.04)) and nighttime (0.38 ± 0.07 (0.28 ± 0.06)), suggesting that mixing of fresh secondary organic aerosols is not significant and the Mumbai aerosols are photochemically well processed. Concentrations of MSA and C₉ diacid present a positive correlation (r² = 0.75), indicating a marine influence on Mumbai aerosols in addition to local/regional influence. Backward air mass trajectory analyses further suggested that the Mumbai aerosols are largely influenced by long-range continental and regional transport. Stable C-isotopic ratios (δ¹³C) of TC ranged from −27.0 to −25.4‰, with slightly lower average (−26.5 ± 0.3‰) in summer than in winter (−25.9 ± 0.3‰). Positive correlation between WSOC/TC ratios and δ¹³C values suggested that the relative increment in ¹³C of wintertime TC may be caused by prolonged photochemical processing of organic aerosols in this season. This study suggests that in winter, the tropical aerosols are more aged due to longer residence time in the atmosphere than in summer aerosols. However, these conclusions are based on the analysis of a limited number of samples (n=25) and more information on this topic may be needed from other similar coastal sites in future

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“…All the quartz filter samples were analyzed on a Sunset instrument (http://www.sunlab.com) at Environment Canada's Toronto lab, using a thermal method (i.e., EnCan Total 900) originally developed for isotope measurements of OC and EC (Huang et al, 2006;Chan et al, 2010). Although a Sunset instrument was used, no laser beam is applied in this method, instead long residence times at each temperature stage are optimized to ensure good baseline separation for individual carbon fractions.…”

Section: Sample Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbonaceous species in PM<sub>2.5</sub> at a pair of rural/urban sites in Beijing, 2005–2008

et al. 2011

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Abstract. One-week integrated PM 2.5 samples were collected over four years (2005)(2006)(2007)(2008) at a pair of sites, one rural and one urban site, in the area of Beijing, China. Weekly organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC) concentrations from these samples were measured to investigate their atmospheric concentrations, temporal variation patterns and the factors influencing these aspects. A slightly systematic decrease in annual mean concentration of OC and an opposite trend for EC at both sites was observed. Since OC accounted for about 70 % of total carbon (TC, i.e. OC + EC) the total carbonaceous mass experienced a slight decline on a yearly basis over the study period. Its fraction of PM 2.5 mass at the urban site in 2008 was significantly lower than observed 10 years earlier (1999), indicating that the relative importance of carbonaceous species in PM 2.5 has decreased. In urban Beijing clear seasonal variations (by factors of 1.35 ∼ 3.0) were shown in both OC and EC with higher weekly concentrations and fluctuations in winter and much lower values in summer and spring. The minimum seasonal urban excesses of OC (3.0 µg m −3 ) and EC (1.3 µg m −3 ) occurred in the summer of 2008, which were only one-ninth and one-seventh of their corresponding maximum values, respectively. This reduction in the urban-difference, coupled with more positive stable carbon isotope values of EC at the urban site in that summer relative to the preceding summers, supports that the special clean air campaign for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games very likely had noticeable impact on the ambient concentrations of carbonaceous aerosols in the Beijing area, particularly on the local urban scale. Less consistent seasonal patterns in OC and EC, their scattered correlation, andCorrespondence to: K. He (hekb@tsinghua.edu.cn) higher mass ratios of OC to EC (OC/EC) at the rural site indicate more complex and variable major sources regarding aerosol formation in the rural area. These emission sources include biomass burning during the harvest seasons, widely used high-polluting family stoves and small boilers for cooking and heating with high OC/EC ratios, and a greater relative quantity of secondary organic aerosols.

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Stable isotope measurements of carbon fractions (OC/EC) in airborne particulate: A new dimension for source characterization and apportionment

Cited by 137 publications

References 16 publications

Organic functional groups in the submicron aerosol at 82.5° N, 62.5° W from 2012 to 2014

Organic functional groups in the submicron aerosol at 82.5° N, 62.5° W from 2012 to 2014

Organic and inorganic markers and stable C-, N-isotopic compositions of tropical coastal aerosols from megacity Mumbai: sources of organic aerosols and atmospheric processing

Carbonaceous species in PM<sub>2.5</sub> at a pair of rural/urban sites in Beijing, 2005–2008

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Stable isotope measurements of carbon fractions (OC/EC) in airborne particulate: A new dimension for source characterization and apportionment

Cited by 137 publications

References 16 publications

Organic functional groups in the submicron aerosol at 82.5° N, 62.5° W from 2012 to 2014

Organic functional groups in the submicron aerosol at 82.5° N, 62.5° W from 2012 to 2014

Organic and inorganic markers and stable C-, N-isotopic compositions of tropical coastal aerosols from megacity Mumbai: sources of organic aerosols and atmospheric processing

Carbonaceous species in PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; at a pair of rural/urban sites in Beijing, 2005–2008

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Organic functional groups in the submicron aerosol at 82.5° N, 62.5° W from 2012 to 2014

Organic functional groups in the submicron aerosol at 82.5° N, 62.5° W from 2012 to 2014

Carbonaceous species in PM<sub>2.5</sub> at a pair of rural/urban sites in Beijing, 2005–2008