Summertime PM2.5ionic species in four major cities of China: Nitrate formation in an ammonia-deficient atmosphere

R. K. Pathak, W. S. Wu, Tao Wang

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Abstract

Strong atmospheric photochemistry in summer can produce a significant amount of secondary aerosols, which may have a large impact on regional air quality and visibility. In the study reported herein, we analyzed sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium in PM2.5samples collected using a 24-h filter system at suburban and rural sites near four major cities in China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Lanzhou). Overall, the PM2.5mass concentrations were high (with a mean value of 55-68 g μgm-3), which reflects the long-known particulate pollution in China's large urban centers. We observed very high concentrations of sulfate and nitrate at the Beijing and Shanghai sites, and, in particular, abnormally high levels of nitrate (24-h average concentration up to 42gμgm-3and contributing up to 25% of the PM2.5mass) in the ammonium-poor samples. The Beijing and Shanghai aerosols were characterized by high levels of aerosol acidity (∼220-390nmol m-3) and low levels of insitu pH (-0.77 to -0.52). In these samples,. the formation of the observed high concentrations of particulate nitrate cannot be explained by homogeneous gas-phase reaction between ammonia and nitric acid. Examination of the relation of nitrate to relative humidity and aerosol loading suggests that the nitrate was most probably formed via the heterogeneous hydrolysis of N2O5on the surface of the moist and acidic aerosols in Beijing and Shanghai. In comparison, the samples collected in Lanzhou and Guangzhou were ammoniumrich with low levels of aerosol acidity (∼65-70nmol m-3), and the formation of ammonium nitrate via the homogeneous gas-phase reaction was favored, which is similar to many previous studies. An empirical fit has been derived to relate fine nitrate to aerosol acidity, aerosol water content, aerosol surface area, and the precursor of nitrate for the data from Beijing and Shanghai.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1711-1722
Number of pages12
JournalAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Volume9
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atmospheric Science

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