Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Novel Measurements of Volatility- and Polarity-Separated Organic Aerosol Composition and Associated Hygroscopicity to Investigate the Influence of Mixed Anthropogenic-Biogenic Emissions on Atmospheric Aging Processes
EPA Grant Number: R835402Title: Novel Measurements of Volatility- and Polarity-Separated Organic Aerosol Composition and Associated Hygroscopicity to Investigate the Influence of Mixed Anthropogenic-Biogenic Emissions on Atmospheric Aging Processes
Investigators: Williams, Brent
Institution: Washington University
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: April 1, 2013 through March 31, 2016
Project Amount: $298,747
RFA: Anthropogenic Influences on Organic Aerosol Formation and Regional Climate Implications (2012) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , Climate Change , Air , Early Career Awards
Objective:
Coupling of anthropogenic and biogenic emissions and subsequent atmospheric aging processes are hypothesized to be the leading single contribution to global organic aerosol (OA) mass concentrations, and is also perhaps the least understood single contribution to OA. Improved understanding of this coupling is a high priority topic in the field of atmospheric chemistry to determine mitigation strategies for OA control, a pollutant that alters climate and causes detrimental health effects. The primary objective of this proposed work is to better characterize the controlling factors in enhanced secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from combined anthropogenic and biogenic emission sources through innovative laboratory and field studies using novel instrumentation.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Through this project, we worked to develop a volatility and polarity separator (VAPS) for improved chemical characterization of organic aerosol and deployed it on two different field studies. We also built a custom multi-channel tandem differential mobility analyzer (MC-TDMA) for particle sizing, volatility, and hygroscopicity, and deployed it on a first field study. Additionally, we performed several rounds of laboratory-based measurements of the oxidation of isoprene (the dominant biogenic emission globally and in the southeastern United States), toluene (representative of an anthropogenic VOC), and several types of biomass combustion emissions under varying concentrations, oxidant exposures, and mixtures with NOx. A major lesson from these laboratory studies was to improve the design and operation of the PAM reaction chamber to ensure stable mixing and oxidation of precursor gases, and development of improved methods of calibrating oxidant exposures for each individual experiment. To help in determining the oxidant exposures, we have studied the residence time distribution of the PAM chamber over a range of commonly utilized flow rates.
With regards to field deployments, major observations from VAPS measurements in Centreville, AL (in support of the 2013 Southern Oxidant and Aerosol Study (SOAS)) include observation of highly oxygenated aerosol and identification of several major types of oxygenated biogenic aerosol, low-NOx isoprene-derived SOA and terpene SOA. Very little anthropogenic aerosol was observed. A wide array of gas and particle measurements were also made in East St. Louis, IL, during the 2013 St. Louis Air Quality Regional Study (SLAQRS), a site with significantly higher anthropogenic pollutants from Greater St. Louis and periodic impact from air masses with high concentration of biogenic isoprene and its oxidation products. Data analysis reveals evidence of nighttime particle growth events when biogenic (isoprene) emissions (transported from the Ozark Mountains to the southwest of St. Louis) were impacting the region along with locally elevated nitrate radical concentrations. These nighttime growth events were always smaller in scale to daytime growth events a decade ago (Qian Shi, Master’s Thesis with P. McMurry, U.Minnesota) but overwhelmed any evidence of strong daytime growth events during our recent measurement period (Aug.-Oct., 2013). SO2 has dropped by approximately a factor of 5 and NOx has decreased by approximately a factor of 2 since that time period, however O3 has actually slightly increased in the same time period. It is estimated that nighttime O3 is not completely titrated away as often as it once had been, leaving the potential for increased nighttime NO3 formation and associated increased potential for nocturnal chemistry and particle formation. During high isoprene impact periods it was observed on nights with active NO3 oxidation chemistry that isoprene is largely reacted away and nights that NO3 was not formed, remaining isoprene provided fuel for elevated ozone production the following morning. In this case, it appears nighttime NO3 chemistry contributes to increases in fine particulate matter, but can actually help to limit next day ozone production.
This work developed new analytical research tools and methods to better characterize the chemical and physical properties of atmospheric particles, and applied these methods to two separate ambient environments and a range of controlled laboratory conditions to improve our understanding of the emissions and photochemical aging processes these pollutants undergo while in the atmosphere. The focus of field and laboratory work was as the nexus of natural emission sources and major anthropogenic sources, and to gain a better understanding of the interactions between the two. It is clear that an interaction of biogenic and anthropogenic emissions alters the production and fate of not only specific specialty chemical species analyzed by these advanced tools, but also atmospheric criteria pollutants monitored by the EPA (e.g., nitrogen oxides, ozone, and particulate matter) due to their detrimental impact on health and the environment. For example, in the summertime in the St. Louis region we discovered that nighttime interactions of nitrogen oxides from local anthropogenic sources and regional biogenic emissions can determine the production of next day ozone.
Journal Articles on this Report : 6 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other project views: | All 36 publications | 6 publications in selected types | All 6 journal articles |
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Baasandorj M, Millet, DB Hu L, Mitroo D, Williams BJ. Measuring acetic and formic acid by proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry:sensitivity, humidity dependence, and quantifying interferences. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques 2015;8(3)1303-1321. |
R835402 (2014) R835402 (Final) |
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Martinez RE, Williams BJ, Zhang Y, Hagan D, Walker M, Kreisberg NM, Hering SV, Hohaus T, Jayne JT, Worsnop DR. Development of a Volatility and Polarity Separator (VAPS) for volatility-and polarity-resolved organic aerosol measurement. Aerosol Science and Technology 2016;50(3):255-271. |
R835402 (2014) R835402 (Final) |
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Millet DB, Baasandorj M, Farmer DK, Thornton JA, Baumann K, Brophy P, Chaliyakunnel S, de Gouw JA, Graus M, Hu L, Koss A, Lee BH, Lopez-Hilfiker FD, Neuman JA, Paulot F, Peischl J, Pollack IB, Ryerson TB, Warneke C, Williams BJ, Xu J. A large and ubiquitous source of atmospheric formic acid. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 2015;15(11):6283-6304. |
R835402 (2014) R835402 (Final) R835406 (Final) |
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Millet DB, Baasandorj M, Hu L, Mitroo D, Turner J, Williams BJ. Nighttime chemistry and morning isoprene can drive urban ozone downwind of a major deciduous forest. Environmental Science & Technology 2016;50(8):4335-4342. |
R835402 (2014) R835402 (Final) |
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Oxford CR, Chakrabarty RK, Williams BJ. Evaluation of assumptions made by Hygroscopic Tandem Differential Mobility Analyzer inversion routines. Journal of Aerosol Science 2022;162:105955. doi:10.1016/j.jaerosci.2022.105955. |
R835402 (Final) |
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Williams BJ, Zhang Y, Zuo X, Martinez RE, Walker MJ, Kreisberg NM, Goldstein AH, Docherty KS, Jimenez JL. Organic and inorganic decomposition products from the thermal desorption of atmospheric particles. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques 2016;9(4):1569-1586. |
R835402 (2014) R835402 (Final) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
Air quality and air toxics, global climate change, atmospheric chemistry, organic aerosol, secondary organic aerosol, mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, biogenic and anthropogenic emissions, atmospheric oxidation, nighttime NO3 chemistry
Relevant Websites:
http://actlab.seas.wustl.edu/ Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.