Role of ambient ammonia in particulate ammonium formation at a rural site in the North China Plain
The real-time measurements of NH<sub>3</sub> and trace gases were conducted, in conjunction with semi-continuous measurements of water-soluble ions in PM<sub>2.5</sub> at a rural site in the North China Plain (NCP) from May to September 2013 in order to better understand c...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/18/167/2018/acp-18-167-2018.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818973164726648832 |
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| author | Z. Meng X. Xu W. Lin W. Lin B. Ge Y. Xie Y. Xie B. Song S. Jia S. Jia R. Zhang R. Zhang W. Peng Y. Wang H. Cheng W. Yang H. Zhao |
| author_facet | Z. Meng X. Xu W. Lin W. Lin B. Ge Y. Xie Y. Xie B. Song S. Jia S. Jia R. Zhang R. Zhang W. Peng Y. Wang H. Cheng W. Yang H. Zhao |
| author_sort | Z. Meng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The real-time measurements of NH<sub>3</sub> and trace gases were conducted, in
conjunction with semi-continuous measurements of water-soluble ions in
PM<sub>2.5</sub> at a rural site in the North China Plain (NCP) from May to
September 2013 in order to better understand chemical characteristics of
ammonia and the impact of secondary ammonium aerosols on formation in the
NCP. Extremely high NH<sub>3</sub> and NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> concentrations were observed
after a precipitation event within 7–10 days following urea application.
Elevated NH<sub>3</sub> levels coincided with elevated NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>,
indicating that NH<sub>3</sub> likely influenced particulate ammonium mass. For the
sampling period, the average conversion ∕ oxidation ratios for NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> (NHR), SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup> (SOR), and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> (NOR) were estimated to be
0.30, 0.64, and 0.24, respectively. The increased NH<sub>3</sub> concentrations,
mainly from agricultural activities and regional transport, coincided with
the prevailing meteorological conditions. The high NH<sub>3</sub> level with NHR of
about 0.30 indicates that the emission of NH<sub>3</sub> in the NCP is much higher
than needed for aerosol acid neutralisation, and NH<sub>3</sub> plays an important
role in the formation of secondary aerosols as a key neutraliser. The hourly
data obtained were used to investigate gas–aerosol partitioning
characteristics using the thermodynamic equilibrium model ISORROPIA-II.
Modelled SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup>, NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>, and NH<sub>3</sub> values agree well with
the measurements, while the modelled NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> values largely underestimate the
measurements. Our observation and modelling results indicate that strong
acids in aerosol are completely neutralised. Additional NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> exists
in aerosol, probably a result of the presence of a substantial amount of oxalic and
other diacids. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T15:19:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a0d5511a8f284ae5871298e1b83731a3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T15:19:49Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-a0d5511a8f284ae5871298e1b83731a32022-12-21T19:36:05ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242018-01-011816718410.5194/acp-18-167-2018Role of ambient ammonia in particulate ammonium formation at a rural site in the North China PlainZ. Meng0X. Xu1W. Lin2W. Lin3B. Ge4Y. Xie5Y. Xie6B. Song7S. Jia8S. Jia9R. Zhang10R. Zhang11W. Peng12Y. Wang13H. Cheng14W. Yang15H. Zhao16State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather & Key Laboratory for Atmospheric Chemistry of CMA, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Severe Weather & Key Laboratory for Atmospheric Chemistry of CMA, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081, ChinaCMA Meteorological Observation Centre, Beijing 100081, Chinanow at: College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaUniversity of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaBaotou Steel Group Mining Research Institute, Baotou 014010, ChinaUniversity of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Severe Weather & Key Laboratory for Atmospheric Chemistry of CMA, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081, ChinaSouth China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, ChinaChinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, ChinaBeijing Municipal Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Beijing 100037, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Severe Weather & Key Laboratory for Atmospheric Chemistry of CMA, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Severe Weather & Key Laboratory for Atmospheric Chemistry of CMA, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Severe Weather & Key Laboratory for Atmospheric Chemistry of CMA, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081, ChinaChinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Severe Weather & Key Laboratory for Atmospheric Chemistry of CMA, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081, ChinaThe real-time measurements of NH<sub>3</sub> and trace gases were conducted, in conjunction with semi-continuous measurements of water-soluble ions in PM<sub>2.5</sub> at a rural site in the North China Plain (NCP) from May to September 2013 in order to better understand chemical characteristics of ammonia and the impact of secondary ammonium aerosols on formation in the NCP. Extremely high NH<sub>3</sub> and NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> concentrations were observed after a precipitation event within 7–10 days following urea application. Elevated NH<sub>3</sub> levels coincided with elevated NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>, indicating that NH<sub>3</sub> likely influenced particulate ammonium mass. For the sampling period, the average conversion ∕ oxidation ratios for NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> (NHR), SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup> (SOR), and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> (NOR) were estimated to be 0.30, 0.64, and 0.24, respectively. The increased NH<sub>3</sub> concentrations, mainly from agricultural activities and regional transport, coincided with the prevailing meteorological conditions. The high NH<sub>3</sub> level with NHR of about 0.30 indicates that the emission of NH<sub>3</sub> in the NCP is much higher than needed for aerosol acid neutralisation, and NH<sub>3</sub> plays an important role in the formation of secondary aerosols as a key neutraliser. The hourly data obtained were used to investigate gas–aerosol partitioning characteristics using the thermodynamic equilibrium model ISORROPIA-II. Modelled SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup>, NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>, and NH<sub>3</sub> values agree well with the measurements, while the modelled NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> values largely underestimate the measurements. Our observation and modelling results indicate that strong acids in aerosol are completely neutralised. Additional NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> exists in aerosol, probably a result of the presence of a substantial amount of oxalic and other diacids.https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/18/167/2018/acp-18-167-2018.pdf |
| spellingShingle | Z. Meng X. Xu W. Lin W. Lin B. Ge Y. Xie Y. Xie B. Song S. Jia S. Jia R. Zhang R. Zhang W. Peng Y. Wang H. Cheng W. Yang H. Zhao Role of ambient ammonia in particulate ammonium formation at a rural site in the North China Plain Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Role of ambient ammonia in particulate ammonium formation at a rural site in the North China Plain |
| title_full | Role of ambient ammonia in particulate ammonium formation at a rural site in the North China Plain |
| title_fullStr | Role of ambient ammonia in particulate ammonium formation at a rural site in the North China Plain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Role of ambient ammonia in particulate ammonium formation at a rural site in the North China Plain |
| title_short | Role of ambient ammonia in particulate ammonium formation at a rural site in the North China Plain |
| title_sort | role of ambient ammonia in particulate ammonium formation at a rural site in the north china plain |
| url | https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/18/167/2018/acp-18-167-2018.pdf |
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