Thermogravimetric analysis of soot combustion in the presence of ash and soluble organic fraction

Soot (Printex U, PU) combustion in the presence of ash and soluble organic fraction (SOF) was studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).

Profiling Murchison Soluble Organic Matter for New Organic Compounds with APPI- and ESI-FT-ICR MS

The investigation of the abundant organic matter in primitive meteorite such as carbonaceous chondrites is of major interest in the field of origin of life. In this study, the soluble organic fraction of the Murchison meteorite was analyzed by atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS), in both detection modes. Such an approach ensured that we obtained an extensive description of the organic matter of the CM2 meteorite. Indeed, while in total close to 16,000 unique features were assigned, only 4% are common to all analyses, illustrating the complementarity of both the detection modes and the ionization sources. ESI FT-ICR MS analysis, in negative-ion mode, ensured to observe specifically CHOS and CHNOS species, whereas the positive-ion mode is more dedicated to the detection of CHNO and CHN species. Moreover, new organomagnesium components were observed in (+) ESI. Eventually, (+) APPI FT-ICR MS analysis was a preferred method for the detection of less polar or nonpolar species such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons but also heteroatom aromatic species composing the organic matter of Murchison.

High molecular weight humic-like substances in carboneous aerosol of Ulaanbaatar city

Total carbon content of the atmospheric suspended particulate matters consisted of as high as 89-93% organic carbon (OC) in Ulaanbaatar aerosol without showing seasonal variation. However, limited aerosol measurements have been conducted on these OC rich aerosols particularly for high molecular weight constituents. In order to address the gap above, abundance of high molecular weight humic-like substances (HULIS) in total suspended particulates (TSP) from Ulaanbaatar atmospheric aerosol were determined for the first time. HULIS molecular structure was characterised for different seasons using carbon content and UV absorbance measurements coupled with solid phase extraction methods. Although, HULIS contributions to water soluble organic fraction of the winter and summer aerosols were similar HULIS carbon concentration was higher in winter samples (9-37 mg·L-1) than in summer (2-6 mg·L-1). Consequently quantity of aromatic moieties and degree of aromaticity varied between seasons.

Secondary aerosol formation promotes water uptake by organic-rich wildfire haze particles in equatorial Asia

The diameter growth factor (GF) of 100 nm haze particles at 85 % relative humidity (RH) and their chemical characteristics were simultaneously monitored at Singapore in October 2015 during a pervasive wildfire haze episode that was caused by peatland burning in Indonesia. Non-refractory submicron particles (NR-PM1) were dominated by organics (OA; approximating 77.1 % in total mass), whereas sulfate was the most abundant inorganic constituent (11.7 % on average). A statistical analysis of the organic mass spectra showed that most organics (36.0 % of NR-PM1 mass) were highly oxygenated. Diurnal variations of GF, number fractions of more hygroscopic mode particles, mass fractions of sulfate, and mass fractions of oxygenated organics (OOA) synchronized well, peaking during the day. The mean hygroscopicity parameter (κ) of the haze particles was 0.189 ± 0.087, and the mean κ values of organics were 0.157 ± 0.108 (κorg, bulk organics) and 0.266 ± 0.184 (κOOA, OOA), demonstrating the important roles of both sulfate and highly oxygenated organics in the hygroscopic growth of organics-dominated wildfire haze particles. κorg correlated with the water-soluble organic fraction insignificantly, but it positively correlated with f44 (fraction of the ion fragment at m∕z 44 in total organics) (R = 0.70), implying the oxygenation degree of organics could be more critical for the water uptake of organic compounds. These results further suggest the importance of sulfate and secondary organic aerosol formation in promoting the hygroscopic growth of wildfire haze particles. Further detailed size-resolved as well as molecular-level chemical information about organics is necessary for the profound exploration of water uptake by wildfire haze particles in equatorial Asia.

Secondary aerosol formation promotes water uptake by organic-rich wildfire haze particles in Equatorial Asia

Diameter growth factors (GF) of 100 nm haze particles at 85 % relative humidity and chemical characteristics were simultaneously monitored at Singapore in October 2015 during a pervasive wildfire haze episode, which was caused by peatland burning in Indonesia. Non-refractory submicron particles (NR-PM1) were dominated by organics (approximating 77.1 % in total mass), whereas sulfate was the most abundant inorganic constituent (11.7 % on average). A statistical analysis of the organic mass spectra showed that most of organics (36.0 % of NR-PM1 mass) were highly oxygenated. Diurnal variations of GF, number fraction of highly hygroscopic mode particles, mass fraction of sulfate, and mass fraction of oxygenated organics (OOA) synchronized well, peaking during daytime. The mean hygroscopicity parameter (κ) of haze particles was 0.189 ± 0.087, and mean κ values of organics were 0.157 ± 0.108 (κorg, bulk organics) and 0.287 ± 0.193 (κOOA, OOA), demonstrating the important roles of both sulfate and highly oxygenated organics in hygroscopic growth of wildfire haze particles. κorg was also affected by the water-soluble organic fraction to some extent. These results show the importance of secondary formation processes in promoting water uptake properties of wildfire haze particles, including both inorganic and organic species. Further detailed size-resolved as well as molecular level chemical information of organics will be necessary for more profound exploration of water uptake by wildfire haze particles in Equatorial Asia.