Grantee Research Project Results
2012 Progress Report: Understanding the Hygroscopic Properties of Black Carbon/Organic Carbon Mixing States: Connecting Climate and Health Impacts of Anthropogenic Aerosol
EPA Grant Number: R835040Title: Understanding the Hygroscopic Properties of Black Carbon/Organic Carbon Mixing States: Connecting Climate and Health Impacts of Anthropogenic Aerosol
Investigators: Asa-Awuku, Akua
Institution: University of California - Riverside
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2014 (Extended to September 30, 2016)
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 1, 2011 through September 30,2012
Project Amount: $449,925
RFA: Black Carbon's Role In Global To Local Scale Climate And Air Quality (2010) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air , Climate Change
Objective:
The objective of the study is to understand properties of black carbon (BC) containing aerosol that is well mixed with organic hygroscopic material. The mixtures of BC and organic material significantly affect water uptake and cloud nucleating ability. To address these scientific questions, the principal investigator (PI) has 1) initiated the design of a novel apparatus to control and modify BC/organic carbon (OC) aerosol mixing states for subsequent testing; 2) addressed and begun to identify unique and viable on-line and off-line measurement techniques to characterize BC/OC water-uptake and droplet growth; and 3) initiated a testing protocol to measure the in-situ cloud droplet ability of mixed BC/OC aerosol from alternative fuel emissions and advanced vehicle technologies.
Progress Summary:
The PI’s research group has investigated the water nucleating properties of BC containing aerosol from two distinct sources—biomass burning and vehicular emissions. The contribution of BC to the total biomass burning aerosol mass decreases during aging and photochemistry as additional organic material is formed during controlled aging environmental chamber experiments. The changes in fractal nature and effective particle density have been observed and have been shown to affect cloud nucleation predictions. In addition, the organic mixture has been shown to be surface active; hence though black carbonaceous material often is considered insoluble, the mixture with a surface active organic composition can facilitate cloud nucleation, and promote CCN activity in biomass burning systems. The PI and her research group also are developing a viable on-line technique to understand the nucleating properties of BC- aerosol compositions. The technique has been applied to vehicular studies that investigate the emission from alcohol (ethanol – E10 and butanol-B15) gasoline fuel blends in commercial light duty vehicles. BC concentrations are measured for light duty vehicles operated on the federal test procedure and unified testing cycle. The BC concentrations have been compared to insoluble mass fractions inferred with the online technique. The PI also has initiated the design and development of a mixing apparatus to control and modify BC/OC mixing states. In these early stages, computation fluid dynamics has been used to simulate flows and control mixing behavior in the apparatus.
Future Activities:
The PI will focus on continued modeling and construction of the mixing apparatus and initiate controlled mixing studies in the laboratory environment. Results from both biomass burning and vehicular emissions are slated for publication in the subsequent reporting period.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 36 publications | 11 publications in selected types | All 11 journal articles |
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Short D, Giordano M, Zhu Y, Fine PM, Polidori A, Asa-Awuku A. A unique online method to infer water-insoluble particle contributions. Aerosol Science and Technology 2014;48(7):706-714. |
R835040 (2012) R835040 (2014) R835040 (2015) R835040 (Final) |
Exit Exit |
Supplemental Keywords:
atmospheric pollution, black carbon, climate, aerosol-indirect effect, tropospheric aerosol, mixing state, particle hygroscopicityRelevant Websites:
http://www.engr.ucr.edu/~akua ExitProgress 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.