Characterization of Organic Acids with Different Atmospheric Particle Sizes

Abstract:

Atmospheric particulate samples were collected during January, February, April and May 2012, separately. Twenty-one fatty acids and seven dicarboxylic acids were measured by GC-MS. The results show that average mass concentrations of fatty acids are 809.24ng/m³, 545.34ng/m³, 386.96ng/m³ and dicarboxylic acids are 215.14 ng/m³, 156.45 ng/m³, 111.43 ng/m³ in PM10, PM2.5, PM1, respectively. Fatty acids and dicarboxylic acids concentrate mainly in the PM1. C11-C24 of fatty acids exhibit a significant even carbon predominances, but dicarboxylic acids present no parity preponderance. In the fatty acids, the concentration of hexadecanoic acid is the highest with that of octadecanoic acid followed; Nonandioic acid is the highest in dicarboxylic acids. The results of source apportionments indicate that the fatty acids are mainly related with human activities. Coal burning for heating is the most important source in January and February, but its contribution decreases sharply in April and May for fatty acids; The main source of dicarboxylic acids is photochemical reactions.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 599)
• Pages: 14-22
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.599.14
• Online since: November 2012
• Authors: Xiang He, Feng Qian, Yao Li
• Keywords: Atmospheric Particle Matter, Characterization, Organic Acid, Source Analysis

References

[1] Bi X., Simoneit B.R., Sheng G., Ma S., Fu J. Composition and major sources of organic compounds in urban aerosols. Atmospheric Research 88, 256-265(2008).

DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2007.11.017

[2] Kawamura K., Ikushima K. Seasonal changes in the distribution of dicarboxylic acids in the urban atmosphere. Environmental Science and Technology 27.2227-2235(1993).

DOI: 10.1021/es00047a033

[3] Sempere K., Kawamura K. Comparative distributions of dicarboxylic acids and related polar compounds in snow, rain and aerosols from urban atmospheres [J].Atmos Environ. 28:449- 459(1994).

DOI: 10.1016/1352-2310(94)90123-6

[4] X.L. Tang. Analysis and source appointment of extracal organic acids in TSP of Guangdong. Environment science in China.31（10）:1592~1599(2001).

[5] Limbeck A. Organic aids in continental background aerosols[J].Atmos Environ. 33: 1847一1852(2009).

[6] Zheng M., Fang M., Wang F., To K.L. Characterization of the solvent extractable organic compounds in PM2.5 aerosols in Hong Kong[J].Atmospheric Environment, 34, p.2691~2702 (2000).

DOI: 10.1016/s1352-2310(99)00521-x

[7] Yu S.,Zhang Y.H. Xie S.D. Zeng L.M. Zheng M.,Salmon Lynn.G.,Shao M.,Slanina Sjaak.Source apportionment of PM2.5 in Beijing by positive matrix factorization[J]. Atmospheric Environment, 40, 006, p.1526～1537(2003)

DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2005.10.039

[8] Yan B., Zheng M., Hu Y., Ding X., Sullivan A.P, Weber R.J., Baek J., Edgerton E.S,Russell, A.G., Roadside, urban, and rural comparison of primary and secondary organic molecular markers in ambient PM2.5. Environmental Science and Technology 43, 42874293(2009).

DOI: 10.1021/es900316g

[9] Decesari S., Facchini E., Matta F.,et al. Chemical features and seasonal variation of fine aerosol water-soluble organic compounds in the Po Valley, Italy. Atmospheric Environment. 35:3691-3699 (2001).

DOI: 10.1016/s1352-2310(00)00509-4

[10] Li C.L., Fu J.M., Sheng G.Y., Bi X.H., Hao Y.M., Wang X.M., Mai B.X., Vertical distribution of PAHs in the indoor and outdoor PM2.5 in Guangzhou, China[J]. Building and Environment., 40,p.329～341(2005).

DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2004.05.015

[11] X.Q. Guo, Y.F. Wang, X.R.Li, Y.S. Wang. Characteristics of organic acids in PM2.5 in Beijing during Spring Festival of 2007. The 5th Mainland-Taiwan aresols Conference. Sep.2-6 2008,93~99.

[12] Jiang Y L, Hou X M, Zhuang G S, et al. The sources and seasonal variations of organic compounds in PM2.5 in Beijing and Shanghai, Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry, 62(3): 175-192(2009).

DOI: 10.1007/s10874-010-9147-0

[13] Wang Y., Zhuang G.S., Chen S. Characteristics and sources of formic , acetic and oxalic acids in PM2.5 and PM10 aerosols in Beijing, China [J]. Atmospheric Research,84(2):169-181(2007).

DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2006.07.001

[14] F.K. Duan, K.B.He, X.D. Liu. Characteristics of organic acids of PM2.5 in Beijing[J]. Environment science,29(6):1139-1145(2009).

[15] C.S. Liu, X.R.Li, S.S. Zhang. X.Q. Guo. S.Y. Wang. Source appointment and seasonal variations of fatty acids in particulate matter of Beijing. Environment science in China. 29(7):673~678(2009).

[16] Zheng M., Fang M., Wang F., et al. Characterization of the solvent extractable organic compounds in PM2.5 aerosols in Hong Kong [J]. Atmospheric Environment, 34(17):2691-2702 (2000).

DOI: 10.1016/s1352-2310(99)00521-x

[17] Oliveira C., Alves C., et al. Seasonal distribution of polar organic compounds in the urban atmosphere of two large cities from the north and south of Europe[J]. Atmospheric Euviroumeut, 41( 27): 5555 5570(2007).

DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2007.03.001

[18] Norton R. B., Roberts J. M., Huebert B. J. Tropospheric oxalate[J]. Geophys Res Let, 10:517~520(2003).

[19] Oliveira C, Pio C., Alves C., et al. Seasonal distribution of polar organic compounds in the urban atmosphere of two large cities from the north and south of Europe [J]. Atmospheric Envirorunent,41(27):5555-5570(2007).

DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2007.03.001