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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
earth and planetary sciences
Determination of the biogenic secondary organic aerosol fraction in the boreal forest by NMR spectroscopy
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Volume 12, No. 2, Year 2012
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Description
The study investigates the sources of fine organic aerosol (OA) in the boreal forest, based on measurements including both filter sampling (PM 1) and online methods and carried out during a one-month campaign held in Hyytiälä, Finland, in spring 2007. Two aerosol mass spectrometers (Q-AMS, ToF-AMS) were employed to measure on-line concentrations of major non-refractory aerosol species, while the water extracts of the filter samples were analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy for organic functional group characterization of the polar organic fraction of the aerosol. AMS and NMR spectra were processed separately by non-negative factorization algorithms, in order to apportion the main components underlying the submicrometer organic aerosol composition and depict them in terms of both mass fragmentation patterns and functional group compositions. The NMR results supported the AMS speciation of oxidized organic aerosol (OOA) into two main fractions, which could be generally labelled as more and less oxidized organics. The more oxidized component was characterized by a mass spectrum dominated by the m/z 44 peak, and in parallel by a NMR spectrum showing aromatic and aliphatic backbones highly substituted with oxygenated functional groups (carbonyls/carboxyls and hydroxyls). Such component, contributing on average 50% of the OA mass throughout the observing period, was associated with pollution outbreaks from the Central Europe. The less oxidized component was enhanced in concomitance with air masses originating from the North-to-West sector, in agreement with previous investigations conducted at this site. NMR factor analysis was able to separate two distinct components under the less oxidized fraction of OA. One of these NMR-factors was associated with the formation of terrestrial biogenic secondary organic aerosol (BSOA), based on the comparison with spectral profiles obtained from laboratory experiments of terpenes photo-oxidation. The second NMR factor associated with western air masses was linked to biogenic marine sources, and was enriched in low-molecular weight aliphatic amines. Such findings provide evidence of at least two independent sources originating biogenic organic aerosols in Hyytiälä by oxidation and condensation mechanisms: reactive terpenes emitted by the boreal forest and compounds of marine origin, with the latter relatively more important when predominantly polar air masses reach the site. This study is an example of how spectroscopic techniques, such as proton NMR, can add functional group specificity for certain chemical features (like aromatics) of OA with respect to AMS. They can therefore be profitably exploited to complement aerosol mass spectrometric measurements in organic source apportionment studies. © 2012 Author(s).
Authors & Co-Authors
Finessi, E.
Italy, Bologna
Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, Bologna
United Kingdom, York
University of York
Decesari, Stefano
Italy, Bologna
Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, Bologna
Paglione, Marco
Italy, Bologna
Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, Bologna
Giulianelli, L.
Italy, Bologna
Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, Bologna
Carbone, C.
Italy, Bologna
Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, Bologna
Gilardoni, Stefania
Italy, Bologna
Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, Bologna
Fuzzi, S.
Italy, Bologna
Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, Bologna
Saarikoski, S.
Finland, Helsinki
Finnish Meteorological Institute
Raatikainen, T.
Finland, Helsinki
Finnish Meteorological Institute
United States, Atlanta
Georgia Institute of Technology
Hillamo, Risto E.J.
Finland, Helsinki
Finnish Meteorological Institute
Allan, James Donald
United Kingdom, Manchester
The University of Manchester
Mentel, Thomas F.
Germany, Julich
Forschungszentrum Jülich Gmbh
Tiitta, Petri T.
Finland, Kuopio
Itä-suomen Yliopisto
South Africa, Potchefstroom
North-west University
Laaksonen, Ari
Finland, Helsinki
Finnish Meteorological Institute
Finland, Kuopio
Itä-suomen Yliopisto
Petäj̈ä, Tuukka
Finland, Helsinki
Helsingin Yliopisto
Kulmala, Markku
Finland, Helsinki
Helsingin Yliopisto
Worsnop, Douglas R.
Finland, Helsinki
Finnish Meteorological Institute
Finland, Helsinki
Helsingin Yliopisto
United States, Billerica
Aerodyne Research, Inc.
Facchini, Maria Cristina
Italy, Bologna
Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, Bologna
Statistics
Citations: 18
Authors: 18
Affiliations: 10
Identifiers
Doi:
10.5194/acp-12-941-2012
ISSN:
16807316
e-ISSN:
16807324
Research Areas
Cancer
Environmental