Realtime chemical characterization of post monsoon organic aerosols in a polluted urban city: Sources, composition, and comparison with other seasons. (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chakraborty, Abhishek; Mandariya, Anil Kumar; Chakraborti, Ruparati; Gupta, Tarun; Tripathi, S.N.
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 232(2018)
• Page Start: 310
• Page End: 321
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: Organic aerosols -- Oxidation -- Sources -- Seasonal variations -- Post monsoon; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.09.079
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Real time chemical characterization of non-refractory submicron aerosols (NR-PM1 ) was carried out during post monsoon (September–October) via Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS) at a polluted urban location of Kanpur, India. Organic aerosol (OA) was found to be the dominant species with 58% contribution to total NR-PM1 mass, followed by sulfate (16%). Overall, OA was highly oxidized (average O/C = 0.66) with the dominance of oxidized OAs (60% of total OA) as revealed by source apportionment. Oxidized nature of OA was also supported by very high OC/EC ratios (average = 8.2) obtained from simultaneous offline filter sampling. High and low OA loading periods have very dramatic effects on OA composition and oxidation. OA O/C ratios during lower OA loading periods were on average 30% higher than the same from high loading periods with significant changes in types and relative contribution from oxidized OAs (OOA). Comparison of OA sources and chemistry among post monsoon and other seasons revealed significant differences. Characteristics of primary OAs remain very similar, but features of OOAs showed substantial changes from one season to another. Winter had lowest OOA contribution to total OA but similar overall O/C ratios as other seasons. This reveals that processing of primary OAs, local atmospheric chemistry, and regional contributions can significantly alter OA characteristics from one season to another. This study provides interesting insights into the seasonal variations of OA sources and evolution in a very polluted and complex environment. Graphical abstract: Abstract : Post monsoon aerosol characterization in real time with apportionment of organic aerosol sources and comparative analysis in terms of seasonal characteristics.