An instrument for quantifying heterogeneous ice nucleation in multiwell plates using infrared emissions to detect freezing

<p>Low concentrations of ice-nucleating particles (INPs) are thought to be important for the properties of mixed-phase clouds, but their detection is challenging. Hence, there is a need for instruments where INP concentrations of less than 0.01&thinsp;L<sup>&minus;1</sup>...

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Main Authors: A. D. Harrison, T. F. Whale, R. Rutledge, S. Lamb, M. D. Tarn, G. C. E. Porter, M. P. Adams, J. B. McQuaid, G. J. Morris, B. J. Murray
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2018-10-01
Series:Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
Online Access:https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/11/5629/2018/amt-11-5629-2018.pdf
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author A. D. Harrison
T. F. Whale
T. F. Whale
R. Rutledge
S. Lamb
M. D. Tarn
G. C. E. Porter
M. P. Adams
J. B. McQuaid
G. J. Morris
B. J. Murray
author_facet A. D. Harrison
T. F. Whale
T. F. Whale
R. Rutledge
S. Lamb
M. D. Tarn
G. C. E. Porter
M. P. Adams
J. B. McQuaid
G. J. Morris
B. J. Murray
author_sort A. D. Harrison
collection DOAJ
description <p>Low concentrations of ice-nucleating particles (INPs) are thought to be important for the properties of mixed-phase clouds, but their detection is challenging. Hence, there is a need for instruments where INP concentrations of less than 0.01&thinsp;L<sup>&minus;1</sup> can be routinely and efficiently determined. The use of larger volumes of suspension in drop assays increases the sensitivity of an experiment to rarer INPs or rarer active sites due to the increase in aerosol or surface area of particulates per droplet. Here we describe and characterise the InfraRed-Nucleation by Immersed Particles Instrument (IR-NIPI), a new immersion freezing assay that makes use of IR emissions to determine the freezing temperature of individual 50&thinsp;µL droplets each contained in a well of a 96-well plate. Using an IR camera allows the temperature of individual aliquots to be monitored. Freezing temperatures are determined by detecting the sharp rise in well temperature associated with the release of heat caused by freezing. In this paper we first present the calibration of the IR temperature measurement, which makes use of the fact that following ice nucleation aliquots of water warm to the ice–liquid equilibrium temperature (i.e. 0&thinsp;°C when water activity is ∼&thinsp;1), which provides a point of calibration for each individual well in each experiment. We then tested the temperature calibration using ∼&thinsp;100&thinsp;µm chips of K-feldspar, by immersing these chips in 1&thinsp;µL droplets on an established cold stage (µL-NIPI) as well as in 50&thinsp;µL droplets on IR-NIPI; the results were consistent with one another, indicating no bias in the reported freezing temperature. In addition we present measurements of the efficiency of the mineral dust NX-illite and a sample of atmospheric aerosol collected on a filter in the city of Leeds. NX-illite results are consistent with literature data, and the atmospheric INP concentrations were in good agreement with the results from the µL-NIPI instrument. This demonstrates the utility of this approach, which offers a relatively high throughput of sample analysis and access to low INP concentrations.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-1942d489baf641e5bf448594705d686d2022-12-21T18:25:05ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Measurement Techniques1867-13811867-85482018-10-01115629564110.5194/amt-11-5629-2018An instrument for quantifying heterogeneous ice nucleation in multiwell plates using infrared emissions to detect freezingA. D. Harrison0T. F. Whale1T. F. Whale2R. Rutledge3S. Lamb4M. D. Tarn5G. C. E. Porter6M. P. Adams7J. B. McQuaid8G. J. Morris9B. J. Murray10Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UKInstitute for Climate and Atmospheric Science, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UKnow at: School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UKAsymptote Ltd., GE Healthcare, Sovereign House, Cambridge, CB24 9BZ, UKAsymptote Ltd., GE Healthcare, Sovereign House, Cambridge, CB24 9BZ, UKInstitute for Climate and Atmospheric Science, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UKInstitute for Climate and Atmospheric Science, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UKInstitute for Climate and Atmospheric Science, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UKInstitute for Climate and Atmospheric Science, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UKAsymptote Ltd., GE Healthcare, Sovereign House, Cambridge, CB24 9BZ, UKInstitute for Climate and Atmospheric Science, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK<p>Low concentrations of ice-nucleating particles (INPs) are thought to be important for the properties of mixed-phase clouds, but their detection is challenging. Hence, there is a need for instruments where INP concentrations of less than 0.01&thinsp;L<sup>&minus;1</sup> can be routinely and efficiently determined. The use of larger volumes of suspension in drop assays increases the sensitivity of an experiment to rarer INPs or rarer active sites due to the increase in aerosol or surface area of particulates per droplet. Here we describe and characterise the InfraRed-Nucleation by Immersed Particles Instrument (IR-NIPI), a new immersion freezing assay that makes use of IR emissions to determine the freezing temperature of individual 50&thinsp;µL droplets each contained in a well of a 96-well plate. Using an IR camera allows the temperature of individual aliquots to be monitored. Freezing temperatures are determined by detecting the sharp rise in well temperature associated with the release of heat caused by freezing. In this paper we first present the calibration of the IR temperature measurement, which makes use of the fact that following ice nucleation aliquots of water warm to the ice–liquid equilibrium temperature (i.e. 0&thinsp;°C when water activity is ∼&thinsp;1), which provides a point of calibration for each individual well in each experiment. We then tested the temperature calibration using ∼&thinsp;100&thinsp;µm chips of K-feldspar, by immersing these chips in 1&thinsp;µL droplets on an established cold stage (µL-NIPI) as well as in 50&thinsp;µL droplets on IR-NIPI; the results were consistent with one another, indicating no bias in the reported freezing temperature. In addition we present measurements of the efficiency of the mineral dust NX-illite and a sample of atmospheric aerosol collected on a filter in the city of Leeds. NX-illite results are consistent with literature data, and the atmospheric INP concentrations were in good agreement with the results from the µL-NIPI instrument. This demonstrates the utility of this approach, which offers a relatively high throughput of sample analysis and access to low INP concentrations.</p>https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/11/5629/2018/amt-11-5629-2018.pdf
spellingShingle A. D. Harrison
T. F. Whale
T. F. Whale
R. Rutledge
S. Lamb
M. D. Tarn
G. C. E. Porter
M. P. Adams
J. B. McQuaid
G. J. Morris
B. J. Murray
An instrument for quantifying heterogeneous ice nucleation in multiwell plates using infrared emissions to detect freezing
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
title An instrument for quantifying heterogeneous ice nucleation in multiwell plates using infrared emissions to detect freezing
title_full An instrument for quantifying heterogeneous ice nucleation in multiwell plates using infrared emissions to detect freezing
title_fullStr An instrument for quantifying heterogeneous ice nucleation in multiwell plates using infrared emissions to detect freezing
title_full_unstemmed An instrument for quantifying heterogeneous ice nucleation in multiwell plates using infrared emissions to detect freezing
title_short An instrument for quantifying heterogeneous ice nucleation in multiwell plates using infrared emissions to detect freezing
title_sort instrument for quantifying heterogeneous ice nucleation in multiwell plates using infrared emissions to detect freezing
url https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/11/5629/2018/amt-11-5629-2018.pdf
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