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Characterization of PM2.5 Carbonaceous Particles with a High-Efficiency SEM: A Case Study at a Suburban Area of Xi’an

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Abstract

In this study, a computer-controlled scanning electron microscope equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (CCSEM-EDX) was used to analyze the morphologies and chemical compositions of more than 10,000 individual particles in daytime and nighttime PM2.5 samples collected in suburban Xi’an. The particles in the PM2.5 samples were divided into 7 categories according to their elemental compositions, among which carbonaceous particles in the submicron size range were predominant in all samples (> 90% in numbers). We found that about 20% (in numbers) of carbonaceous particles contained elemental fluorine. The weight percentage of fluorine in the particles ranged between 0.1 and 0.8%. The morphologies and elemental distribution of the fluorine-containing particles indicate the particles were very likely from fossil fuel combustion and waste burning. Results presented in this case study are worthy of in-depth study because of the predominance of these internally mixed particles in the atmosphere and their possible risk to people’s health and the environment.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Atmospheric Research Program (grant No. 2017YFC0212200), Key Projects of Chinese Academy of Sciences (grant No. ZDRW-ZS-2017-6) and National Program on Basic Research Project of China (grant No. 2013FY112500).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Xi’an Institute for Innovative Earth Environment Research, Xi’an, 710061, People’s Republic of China

    Meixia Wang

  2. Key Lab of Aerosol Chemistry and Physics, State Key Lab of Loess and Quaternary Geology (SKLLQG), Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Xi’an, 710061, People’s Republic of China

    Meixia Wang, Tafeng Hu, Feng Wu, Jing Duan, Yingpan Song, Yuqing Zhu & Ningning Zhang

  3. CAS Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, Xi’an, 710061, People’s Republic of China

    Tafeng Hu, Feng Wu & Ningning Zhang

  4. Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, 100048, People’s Republic of China

    Chenxin Xue

  5. Faculty of Environmental and Symbiotic Sciences, Prefectural University of Kumamoto, Kumamoto, 862-8502, Japan

    Daizhou Zhang

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  1. Meixia Wang
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  2. Tafeng Hu
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  3. Feng Wu
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  9. Daizhou Zhang
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Correspondence to Tafeng Hu.

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Wang, M., Hu, T., Wu, F. et al. Characterization of PM2.5 Carbonaceous Particles with a High-Efficiency SEM: A Case Study at a Suburban Area of Xi’an. Aerosol Sci Eng 5, 70–80 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41810-020-00085-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41810-020-00085-z

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