[1] Field observations and quantum chemical calculations suggest that amines can be important for formation of nanometer size particles. Amines and ammonia often have common atmospheric emission sources and the similar chemical and physical properties. While the effects of ammonia on aerosol nucleation have been previously investigated, laboratory studies of homogeneous nucleation involving amines are lacking. We have made kinetics studies of multicomponent nucleation (MCN) with sulfuric acid, water, ammonia and amines under conditions relevant to the atmosphere. Low concentrations of aerosol precursors were measured with chemical ionization mass spectrometers (CIMS) to provide constrained precursor concentrations needed for nucleation. Particle sizes larger than $2 nm were measured with a nanodifferential mobility analyzer (nano-DMA), and number concentrations of particles larger than $1 nm were measured with a particle size magnifier (PSM). Our observations provide the laboratory evidence that amines indeed can participate in aerosol nucleation and growth at the molecular cluster level. The enhancement of particle number concentrations due to several atmospherically relevant amine compounds and ammonia were related to the basicity of these compounds, indicating that acid-base reactions may contribute to the formation of sub-3 nm particles. Citation: Yu, H., R. McGraw, and S.-H. Lee (2012), Effects of amines on formation of sub-3 nm particles and their subsequent growth, Geophys.
Abstract. Intense new particle formation (NPF) events were observed in the coastal atmosphere during algae growth and farming season at Xiangshan gulf of the east China coast. High nucleation-mode iodine concentrations measured by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF-MS) confirmed that the NPF events were induced by iodine species. Our study provides important information on iodine speciation, size distributions, and its role in NPF in the context of heavy air pollution in China's coastal areas. For the first time, we identified 5 inorganic iodine species, 45 organic iodine compounds (35 molecular formulas), and a group of iodide–organic adducts in aerosols. The concentrations and size distributions of iodine species down to 10 nm were measured during the iodine-induced NPF, continental NPF, and non-NPF days at the coastal site and compared to those at an inland site. The iodine in the above four aerosol sample types were characterized by iodate, aromatic iodine compounds, iodoacetic acid or iodopropenoic acid, and iodide–organic adducts, respectively. Iodide and organic iodine compounds were found in the nucleation-mode particles; however, it is still not clear whether they contributed to nucleation or just new particle growth. Wild algae, as well as farmed algae, could be an important NPF source in China's coastal areas.
Abstract. The measurement of sub-3 nm aerosol particles is technically challenging. Therefore, there is a lack of knowledge about the concentrations of atmospheric sub-3 nm particles and their variation in different environments. In this study, the concentrations of ∼ 1-3 nm particles measured with a particle size magnifier (PSM) were investigated at nine sites around the world. Sub-3 nm particle concentrations were highest at the sites with strong anthropogenic influence. In boreal forest, measured particle concentrations were clearly higher in summer than in winter, suggesting the importance of biogenic precursor vapors in this environment. At all sites, sub-3 nm particle concentrations had daytime maxima, which are likely linked to the photochemical production of precursor vapors and the emissions of precursor vapors or particles from different sources. When comparing ion concentrations to the total sub-3 nm particle concentrations, electrically neutral particles were observed to dominate in polluted environments and in boreal forest during spring and summer. Generally, the concentrations of sub-3 nm particles seem to be determined by the availability of precursor vapors rather than the level of the sink caused by preexisting aerosol particles. The results also indicate that the formation of the smallest particles and their subsequent growth to larger sizes are two separate processes, and therefore studying the concentration of sub-3 nm particles separately in different size ranges is essential.
Abstract. Elemental carbon (EC) in size-segregated aerosol samples were determined at five urban, one suburban, and one rural locations in the Pearl River Delta region in South China during 2006-2008 period. The size modal characteristics of EC were different at the urban and suburban/rural locations. The urban EC had a dominant condensation mode with a mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) in the 0.36-0.43 µm range and a slightly less abundant mode in the droplet mode size (MMAD: 0.8-1.1 µm), while the suburban/rural EC had a prominent mode in the droplet mode size (MMAD: 0.7-1.1 µm) and a minor condensation mode (MMAD: 0.22-0.33 µm). Calculations using Mie theory and the measured size distributions of EC, organic carbon, and major inorganic ions indicate that EC-containing particles contributed 76±20% of the observed light extinction at the urban sites. Among the EC-containing particles, EC mass alone contributed 21±11% of the observed light extinction while non-EC materials on the EC particles (i.e., organic matter, ammonium sulfate, and water) contributed 55±15%. At the suburban/rural locations, EC-containing particles contributed 37-48% of the measured light extinction, with EC mass contributing 4-10% and non-EC coating materials contributing the remaining light extinction. Our results suggest that EC-containing particles were important to the overall light extinction in the urban atmospheres due to their more abundant presence from vehicular emissions. The ECcontaining particles in the suburban/rural locations had a reduced but still significant contribution to light extinction budget.
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