Water-soluble
organic carbon (WSOC) is an important component of
atmospheric particulate matter, consisting of complex and reactive
organics with significant environmental impacts such as light absorption
and health risks. This study proposed a source identification method
for particulate matter based on the excitation–emission matrix
(EEM) multiple fluorescence spectral fingerprints of WSOC. It was
found that EEM fluorescence fingerprints, including fluorescence spectra
and fluorescence parameters, could recognize differences in chemical
structure characteristics of WSOC from diverse sources involving biomass
burning, coal combustion, dust emission, and vehicle emission. Applying
statistical methods such as Bootstrap sampling and the Mann–Whitney
U test, a simple guide to determine the pollution source of particulate
matter was established based on discrepancies in fluorescence fingerprints
such as the modified regional fluorescence integral and fluorescence
quantum yield. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and ultrahigh-performance
liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry combined with parallel
factor analysis showed that the diversity in EEMs of different source
samples was attributed to aromatic groups with various side chains
and substituents. This study will provide a simple and intuitive potential
approach for the source apportionment of atmospheric particulate matter
and set the stage for studying the relationship between atmospheric
chemical processes and fluorescent components.
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