In situ rapid-response measurement of H/sub 2/SO/sub 4//(NH/sub 4/)/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ aerosols in rural Virginia

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00102a018· OSTI ID:6858985

Weiss, R E; Larson, T V; Waggoner, A P

Measurements of the chemical composition and degree of hydration of haze particles in rural Virginia during the summer of 1980 are reported. A new system of instruments, based on detecting relative changes in particle size by measurement of optical scattering, was used to determine with 5-min time resolution the fine particle sulfate mass concentration and NH/sub 4//sup +//SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/ molar ratio. We found sulfate and ammonium ions to average 58% of the mass of particles smaller than 1 ..mu..m. The particle composition in terms of the NH/sub 2//sup +//SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/ molar ratio ranged from 0.5 to 2 with strong diurnal variation. The particles were most acidic at 1500 EDT and least acidic in the period 0600-0900 EDT. The ratio of scattering at ambient RH to that at 35% RH depended only on relative humidity and not on particle chemical composition or increasing vs. decreasing relative humidity. The water contained in ambient aerosol particles was more strongly associated with sulfate and ammonium ions than with the remainder of fine particle mass; these two ions and their associated water caused about 70% of optical scattering.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Washington, Seattle
• OSTI ID: 6858985
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 16:8; ISSN ESTHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AEROSOLS
AIR SAMPLERS
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
AMMONIUM SULFATES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
EQUIPMENT
FEDERAL REGION III
HYDRATION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE SIZE CLASSIFIERS
PERFORMANCE
RURAL AREAS
SAMPLERS
SOLS
SOLVATION
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFURIC ACID
USA
VIRGINIA