Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Terahertz-dependent PM2.5 monitoring and grading in the atmosphere

  • Article
  • Published:
Science China Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Rapid industrialization and economic development have led to serious pollution in the form of fine particulate matter (PM2.5, particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 μm). In China, PM2.5 has been one of the most debated topics in councils of government and issues of public concern. Terahertz (THz) radiation was employed to measure the PM2.5 in the atmosphere from September 2014 to April 2015 in Beijing. Comparison of the PM2.5 level from the website with THz absorbance revealed a significant phenomenon: THz radiation can be used to monitor PM2.5 in the atmosphere. During Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2014, “APEC Blue” was also recorded in a THz system. The relationship between absorbance and PM2.5 demonstrates that THz radiation is an effective selection for air pollution grading. Based on the absorbance spectra, the elemental compositions were studied by two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2DCOS) in conjunction with X-ray fluorescence. Several single absorption peaks were revealed and caused by sulphate from coal combustion, vehicle exhaust emissions and secondary reactions. Furthermore, mathematical algorithms, such as the BPANN and SVM, can process the THz absorbance data and greatly improve the precision of the estimation of PM2.5 mass. Our results suggest that THz spectroscopy can not only reveal the component information for pollution source determination, but quantitatively monitor the PM2.5 content for pollution level evaluation. Therefore, the use of THz radiation is a new method for future air pollution monitoring and grading systems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. R. J. Huang, Y. Zhang, C. Bozzetti, K. F. Ho, J. J. Cao, Y. Han, K. R. Daellenbach, J. G. Slowik, S. M. Platt, F. Canonaco, P. Zotter, R. Wolf, S. M. Pieber, E. A. Bruns, M. Crippa, G. Ciarelli, A. Piazzalunga, M. Schwikowski, G. Abbaszade, J. Schnelle-Kreis, R. Zimmermann, Z. An, S. Szidat, U. Baltensperger, I. El Haddad, and A. S. H. Prévôt, Nature 514, 218 (2014).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Y. L. Zhang, and F. Cao, Sci. Rep. 5, 14884 (2015).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Y. Wang, R. Zhang, and R. Saravanan, Nat. Commun. 5, 3098 (2014).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Y. L. Zhang, R. J. Huang, I. El Haddad, K. F. Ho, J. J. Cao, Y. Han, P. Zotter, C. Bozzetti, K. R. Daellenbach, F. Canonaco, J. G. Slowik, G. Salazar, M. Schwikowski, J. Schnelle-Kreis, G. Abbaszade, R. Zimmermann, U. Baltensperger, A. S. H. Prévôt, and S. Szidat, Atmos. Chem. Phys. 15, 1299 (2015).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Q. Y. Wang, R. J. Huang, J. J. Cao, X. X. Tie, H. Y. Ni, Y. Q. Zhou, Y. M. Han, T. F. Hu, C. S. Zhu, T. Feng, N. Li, and J. D. Li, Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss. 15, 14141 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. D. J. Wuebbles, H. Lei, and J. Lin, Environ. Pollut. 150, 65 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Chinese State Council. Atmospheric Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan (in Chinese) (http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2013-09/12/content_2486773.htm), accessed on September 12, 2013.

  8. K. Huang, X. Zhang, and Y. Lin, Atmos. Res. 164-165, 65 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. People’s Daily Online. Beijing Wants to keep “APEC blue” (http://en.people.cn/n/2014/1114/c90882-8808691.html), published online on November 14, 2014.

  10. People’s Daily Online. How the sky turned blue in Beijing? (http://en.people.cn/n/2015/0907/c98649-8946581.html), Published online on September 7, 2015.

  11. K. Austen, Nature 517, 136 (2015).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. H. Akimoto, Science 302, 1716 (2003).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Z. Meng, D. Dabdub, and J. H. Seinfeld, Science 277, 116 (1997).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. D. Y. H. Pui, S. C. Chen, and Z. Zuo, Particuology 13, 1 (2014).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. X. Y. Miao, S. N. Sun, Y. Z. Li, W. Wang, R. M. Bao, and K. Zhao, Sci. China-Phys. Mech. Astron. 60, 014221 (2017).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. L. M. Guan, H. L. Zhan, X. Y. Miao, J. Zhu, and K. Zhao, Sci. China-Phys. Mech. Astron. 60, 044211 (2017).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. H. Hoshina, S. Ishii, Y. Morisawa, H. Sato, and I. Noda. Appl. Phys. Lett. 100, 011907 (2012).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. C. B. Cai, H. W. Yang, B. Wang, Y. Y. Tao, M. Q. Wen, and L. Xu, Vibr. Spectr. 56, 202 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. J. J. Moré, Lect. Notes Math. 630, 105 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. H. Zhan, K. Zhao, H. Zhao, Q. Li, S. Zhu, and L. Xiao, J. Phys. DAppl. Phys. 49, 395101 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Z. Popovic, and E. N. Grossman, IEEE Trans. Terahertz Sci. Technol. 1, 133 (2011).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Q. Li, K. Zhao, L. W. Zhang, C. Liang, Z. W. Zhang, C. L. Zhang, and D. H. Han, Sci. China-Phys. Mech. Astron. 57, 2354 (2014).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. H. Zhan, S. Wu, R. Bao, L. Ge, and K. Zhao, Fuel 143, 189 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. T. Ryo, S. Koji, and T. Yuya, IEEE Trans. THz Sci. Technol. 134, 1658 (2009).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Y. Zhang, W. Huang, T. Cai, D. Fang, Y. Wang, J. Song, M. Hu, and Y. Zhang, Atmos. Res. 174-175, 62 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Y. Gao, X. Guo, C. Li, H. Ding, L. Tang, and H. Ji, Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 22, 16688 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. H. Zhan, Q. Li, K. Zhao, L. Zhang, Z. Zhang, C. Zhang, and L. Xiao, IEEE Trans. THz Sci. Technol. 5, 1028 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. H. Zhan, K. Zhao, R. Bao, and L. Xiao, J. Infrared Milli Terahz Waves 37, 929 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. H. L. Zhan, K. Zhao, and L. Z. Xiao, Sci. China-Phys. Mech. Astron. 59, 644201 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. H. L. Zhan, N. Li, K. Zhao, Z. W. Zhang, C. L. Zhang, and R. M. Bao, Sci. China-Phys. Mech. Astron. 60, 044221 (2017).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  31. X. Y. Miao, H. L. Zhan, and K. Zhao, Sci. China-Phys. Mech. Astron. 60, 024231 (2017).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. Y. Hua, H. Zhang, and H. Zhou, Quantitative determination of cyfluthrin in n-hexane by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy with chemometrics methods. IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas. 59, 1414 (2010).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, 102249, China

    XinYang Miao, HongLei Zhan, Kun Zhao & LiZhi Xiao

  2. Beijing Key Laboratory of Optical Detection Technology for Oil and Gas, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, 102249, China

    XinYang Miao, HongLei Zhan & Kun Zhao

  3. Department of Material Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, 102249, China

    HongLei Zhan

  4. Department of Physics, Capital Normal University, Beijing, 100048, China

    ZhenWei Zhang, Lei Xu & CunLin Zhang

Authors
  1. XinYang Miao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. HongLei Zhan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kun Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. ZhenWei Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Lei Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. CunLin Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. LiZhi Xiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to HongLei Zhan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Miao, X., Zhan, H., Zhao, K. et al. Terahertz-dependent PM2.5 monitoring and grading in the atmosphere. Sci. China Phys. Mech. Astron. 61, 104211 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11433-018-9237-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11433-018-9237-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation