External and internal cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) mixtures: controlled laboratory studies of varying mixing states

<p>Changes in aerosol chemical mixtures modify cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity. Previous studies have developed CCN models and validated changes in external and internal mixing state with ambient field data. Here, we develop an experimental method to test and validate the CCN activati...

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Main Authors: D. Vu, S. Gao, T. Berte, M. Kacarab, Q. Yao, K. Vafai, A. Asa-Awuku
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2019-08-01
Series:Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
Online Access:https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/12/4277/2019/amt-12-4277-2019.pdf
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author D. Vu
D. Vu
D. Vu
S. Gao
S. Gao
T. Berte
T. Berte
M. Kacarab
M. Kacarab
Q. Yao
K. Vafai
A. Asa-Awuku
A. Asa-Awuku
A. Asa-Awuku
author_facet D. Vu
D. Vu
D. Vu
S. Gao
S. Gao
T. Berte
T. Berte
M. Kacarab
M. Kacarab
Q. Yao
K. Vafai
A. Asa-Awuku
A. Asa-Awuku
A. Asa-Awuku
author_sort D. Vu
collection DOAJ
description <p>Changes in aerosol chemical mixtures modify cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity. Previous studies have developed CCN models and validated changes in external and internal mixing state with ambient field data. Here, we develop an experimental method to test and validate the CCN activation of known aerosol chemical composition with multicomponent mixtures and varying mixing states. CCN activation curves consisting of one or more activation points are presented. Specifically, simplified two-component systems of varying hygroscopicity were generated under internal, external, and transitional mixing conditions. <span class="inline-formula"><i>κ</i></span>-Köhler theory predictions were calculated for different organic and inorganic mixtures and compared to experimentally derived kappa values and respective mixing states. This work employs novel experimental methods to provide information on the shifts in CCN activation data due to external to internal particle mixing from controlled laboratory sources. Results show that activation curves consisting of single and double activation points are consistent with internal and external mixtures, respectively. In addition, the height of the plateau at the activation points is reflective of the externally mixed concentration in the mixture. The presence of a plateau indicates that CCN activation curves consisting of multiple inflection points are externally mixed aerosols of varying water-uptake properties. The plateau disappears when mixing is promoted in the flow tube. At the end of the flow tube experiment, the aerosols are internally mixed and the CCN activated fraction data can be fit with a single-sigmoid curve. The technique to mimic externally to internally mixed aerosol is applied to non-hygroscopic carbonaceous aerosol with organic and inorganic components. To our knowledge, this work is the first to show controlled CCN activation of mixed non-hygroscopic soot with hygroscopic material as the aerosol population transitions from externally to internally mixed states in laboratory conditions. Results confirm that CCN activation analysis methods used here and in ambient data sets are robust and may be used to infer the mixing state of complex aerosol compositions of unknown origin.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-df82a57901fb4953af4cfc9c1d9bf87e2022-12-22T00:08:43ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Measurement Techniques1867-13811867-85482019-08-01124277428910.5194/amt-12-4277-2019External and internal cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) mixtures: controlled laboratory studies of varying mixing statesD. Vu0D. Vu1D. Vu2S. Gao3S. Gao4T. Berte5T. Berte6M. Kacarab7M. Kacarab8Q. Yao9K. Vafai10A. Asa-Awuku11A. Asa-Awuku12A. Asa-Awuku13Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Bourns College of Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USABourns College of Engineering, Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT), Riverside, CA 92507, USAcurrently at: Ford Motor Company, Research & Innovation Center, Dearborn, MI 48124, USADepartment of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Bourns College of Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USAcurrently at: Phillips 66 Research Center, Research and Development, Bartlesville, OK 74004, USADepartment of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Bourns College of Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USABourns College of Engineering, Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT), Riverside, CA 92507, USADepartment of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Bourns College of Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USABourns College of Engineering, Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT), Riverside, CA 92507, USADepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Bourns College of Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USADepartment of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Bourns College of Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USABourns College of Engineering, Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT), Riverside, CA 92507, USADepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA<p>Changes in aerosol chemical mixtures modify cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity. Previous studies have developed CCN models and validated changes in external and internal mixing state with ambient field data. Here, we develop an experimental method to test and validate the CCN activation of known aerosol chemical composition with multicomponent mixtures and varying mixing states. CCN activation curves consisting of one or more activation points are presented. Specifically, simplified two-component systems of varying hygroscopicity were generated under internal, external, and transitional mixing conditions. <span class="inline-formula"><i>κ</i></span>-Köhler theory predictions were calculated for different organic and inorganic mixtures and compared to experimentally derived kappa values and respective mixing states. This work employs novel experimental methods to provide information on the shifts in CCN activation data due to external to internal particle mixing from controlled laboratory sources. Results show that activation curves consisting of single and double activation points are consistent with internal and external mixtures, respectively. In addition, the height of the plateau at the activation points is reflective of the externally mixed concentration in the mixture. The presence of a plateau indicates that CCN activation curves consisting of multiple inflection points are externally mixed aerosols of varying water-uptake properties. The plateau disappears when mixing is promoted in the flow tube. At the end of the flow tube experiment, the aerosols are internally mixed and the CCN activated fraction data can be fit with a single-sigmoid curve. The technique to mimic externally to internally mixed aerosol is applied to non-hygroscopic carbonaceous aerosol with organic and inorganic components. To our knowledge, this work is the first to show controlled CCN activation of mixed non-hygroscopic soot with hygroscopic material as the aerosol population transitions from externally to internally mixed states in laboratory conditions. Results confirm that CCN activation analysis methods used here and in ambient data sets are robust and may be used to infer the mixing state of complex aerosol compositions of unknown origin.</p>https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/12/4277/2019/amt-12-4277-2019.pdf
spellingShingle D. Vu
D. Vu
D. Vu
S. Gao
S. Gao
T. Berte
T. Berte
M. Kacarab
M. Kacarab
Q. Yao
K. Vafai
A. Asa-Awuku
A. Asa-Awuku
A. Asa-Awuku
External and internal cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) mixtures: controlled laboratory studies of varying mixing states
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
title External and internal cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) mixtures: controlled laboratory studies of varying mixing states
title_full External and internal cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) mixtures: controlled laboratory studies of varying mixing states
title_fullStr External and internal cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) mixtures: controlled laboratory studies of varying mixing states
title_full_unstemmed External and internal cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) mixtures: controlled laboratory studies of varying mixing states
title_short External and internal cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) mixtures: controlled laboratory studies of varying mixing states
title_sort external and internal cloud condensation nuclei ccn mixtures controlled laboratory studies of varying mixing states
url https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/12/4277/2019/amt-12-4277-2019.pdf
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